Directional-Freezing-Assisted In Situ Sol-Gel Strategy to Synthesize High-Strength, Fire-Resistant, and Hydrophobic Wood-Based Composite Aerogels for Thermal Insulation.

ABSTRACT: The undesirable inherent natural characteristics of wood, such as low mechanical strength, flammability, and hygroscopicity, limit its potential applications in the thermal insulation industry. Overcoming these disadvantages can greatly expand the application scope of wood. A new attempt at wood modification, the directional-freezing-assisted in situ sol-gel strategy, was used to obtain wood-silica composite aerogels with the unique multi-level ordered porous structure of wood. This method enables silica nanoparticles to successfully replace lignin and facilitates the formation of strong hydrogen bonds between the silica and cellulose molecules. This results in improved mechanical properties for the composite with a density similar to that of natural wood but a mechanical strength that can

SUBMITTER: Hou Y 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC9956576 | biostudies-literature | 2023 Feb

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature