Using Supercritical Fluids to Dry Aerogels

Aerogels are highly porous materials with large internal surface area and large pore volumes. Their densities are as low as 3 kg/m3 and have porosities as high as 99.9%. This makes them excellent thermal insulators. In fact, aerogels are listed in the Guinness Book of World Records for the being the best insulators and the lowest-density solids.

In addition to their thermal insulating capabilities, aerogels have structural strength and impressive load-bearing ability, exceptional absorptive properties, and acoustic insulating capabilities. A short list of specific applications:

• Thermal insulation to windows and skylights
• Chemical absorber for cleaning up spills
• Thickening agents in paints and cosmetics
• Commercial manufacture of aerogel "blankets"
• NASA used aerogels to trap space dust particles aboard Stardust spacecraft
• NASA also used aerogel for thermal insulation of the Mars Rover space suits
• US Navy is evaluating aerogel undergarments as passive thermal protection for divers
• Use as a drug delivery system due to its biocompatibility. (Due to its high surface area and porous structure, drugs can be adsorbed from supercritical CO₂)

For more information, visit the SCF for Aerogels page.
http://appliedseparations.com/Supercritical/SCF_Uses/SCF_for_Aerogels.asp