A novel Yb2SiO5 ceramic aerogel with excellent thermal stability for high-temperature thermal insulation

• Published in: Ceramics international 2024-12, Vol.50 (23), p.50133-50144
• Main Authors: Shang, Sisi, Wang, Jie, Wang, Zihan, Song, Zihao, Yuan, Man, You, Qi, Ge, Longhui, Yang, Jian, Cui, Sheng
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Ceramic aerogel; Rare earth monosilicate; Thermal insulation; Thermal stability; Yb2SiO5
• ISSN: 0272-8842
• DOI: 10.1016/j.ceramint.2024.09.359

To investigate the potential of rare earth oxide structural ceramics for high-temperature insulation applications, we introduced aerogel structures into Yb2SiO5 ceramics. In this study, the pure Yb2SiO5 ceramic aerogels were successfully prepared by calcination using formamide as a gelling agent, the sol-gel method, and the CO2 supercritical drying method. The results indicate that the Yb2SiO5 ceramic aerogel exhibits exceptional structural and phase stability at a temperature of 1400 °C. In addition, we have developed Yb2SiO5 ceramic aerogel composites reinforced with aluminosilicate fiber cotton, which exhibit low density (228.77 kg m−3) and low thermal conductivity (0.038 W m−1 K−1 at 25 °C, 0.102 W m−1 K−1 at 1000 °C). The back temperature of the 10 mm thick composites is only 285 °C after exposure to a butane blowtorch flame at 1300 °C for 600 s. This demonstrates its excellent high-temperature insulation performance. This work can provide a basis for further design and preparation of oxide ceramic high-temperature thermal protection materials with controllable morphology and properties.