Studying the Size-Dependence of Graphene Nanoplatelets (GNPs) in the Final Properties of Polyurethane Aerogels: Thermal Insulation and Mechanical Strength
In the present work, the influence of the addition of graphene nanoplatelets presenting different dimensions on polyurethane–polyisocyanurate aerogel structure and properties has been studied. The obtained aerogels synthesized through a sol–gel method have been fully characterized in terms of densit...
Saved in:
| Main Authors: | , , , , |
|---|---|
| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
MDPI AG
2025-01-01
|
| Series: | Gels |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2310-2861/11/1/44 |
| Tags: |
Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
|
| _version_ | 1832588408288968704 |
|---|---|
| author | Jaime Lledó Judith Martín-de León Tomás E. Gómez Álvarez-Arenas Miguel Ángel Rodríguez-Pérez Beatriz Merillas |
| author_facet | Jaime Lledó Judith Martín-de León Tomás E. Gómez Álvarez-Arenas Miguel Ángel Rodríguez-Pérez Beatriz Merillas |
| author_sort | Jaime Lledó |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | In the present work, the influence of the addition of graphene nanoplatelets presenting different dimensions on polyurethane–polyisocyanurate aerogel structure and properties has been studied. The obtained aerogels synthesized through a sol–gel method have been fully characterized in terms of density, porosity, specific surface area, mechanical stiffness, thermal conductivity, and speed of sound. Opacified aerogels showing high porosity (>92%) and low densities (78–98 kg/m<sup>3</sup>) have been produced, and the effect of the size and content of graphene nanoplatelets has been studied. It has been observed that formulations with less than 5 wt.% of graphene nanoplatelets larger than 2 microns can effectively reduce the total thermal conductivity by absorption and scattering of the infrared radiation, reducing the heat transfer by this mechanism. The resulting opacified samples are highly insulating materials, with thermal conductivities less than 18 mW/m·K. Moreover, it has been observed that smaller particles with ca. 200 nm of average length can promote an increase in the elastic modulus, therefore obtaining stiffer aerogels, combined with thermal conductivities lower than 20 mW/m·K. Results have been studied in detail, providing a further understanding of the mechanisms for improving the final properties of these materials, making them more suitable for industrial applications. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-46edd92406d5498c86c2c09fdeadf617 |
| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 2310-2861 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-01-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Gels |
| spelling | doaj-art-46edd92406d5498c86c2c09fdeadf6172025-01-24T13:33:53ZengMDPI AGGels2310-28612025-01-011114410.3390/gels11010044Studying the Size-Dependence of Graphene Nanoplatelets (GNPs) in the Final Properties of Polyurethane Aerogels: Thermal Insulation and Mechanical StrengthJaime Lledó0Judith Martín-de León1Tomás E. Gómez Álvarez-Arenas2Miguel Ángel Rodríguez-Pérez3Beatriz Merillas4Cellular Materials Laboratory (CellMat), Condensed Matter Physics Department, Faculty of Science, Campus Miguel Delibes, University of Valladolid, Paseo de Belén 7, 47011 Valladolid, SpainCellular Materials Laboratory (CellMat), Condensed Matter Physics Department, Faculty of Science, Campus Miguel Delibes, University of Valladolid, Paseo de Belén 7, 47011 Valladolid, SpainDepartamento de Sensores y Sistemas Ultrasónicos (DSSU), Instituto de Tecnologías Físicas y de la Información (ITEFI), Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas (CSIC), Serrano 144, 28006 Madrid, SpainCellular Materials Laboratory (CellMat), Condensed Matter Physics Department, Faculty of Science, Campus Miguel Delibes, University of Valladolid, Paseo de Belén 7, 47011 Valladolid, SpainCellular Materials Laboratory (CellMat), Condensed Matter Physics Department, Faculty of Science, Campus Miguel Delibes, University of Valladolid, Paseo de Belén 7, 47011 Valladolid, SpainIn the present work, the influence of the addition of graphene nanoplatelets presenting different dimensions on polyurethane–polyisocyanurate aerogel structure and properties has been studied. The obtained aerogels synthesized through a sol–gel method have been fully characterized in terms of density, porosity, specific surface area, mechanical stiffness, thermal conductivity, and speed of sound. Opacified aerogels showing high porosity (>92%) and low densities (78–98 kg/m<sup>3</sup>) have been produced, and the effect of the size and content of graphene nanoplatelets has been studied. It has been observed that formulations with less than 5 wt.% of graphene nanoplatelets larger than 2 microns can effectively reduce the total thermal conductivity by absorption and scattering of the infrared radiation, reducing the heat transfer by this mechanism. The resulting opacified samples are highly insulating materials, with thermal conductivities less than 18 mW/m·K. Moreover, it has been observed that smaller particles with ca. 200 nm of average length can promote an increase in the elastic modulus, therefore obtaining stiffer aerogels, combined with thermal conductivities lower than 20 mW/m·K. Results have been studied in detail, providing a further understanding of the mechanisms for improving the final properties of these materials, making them more suitable for industrial applications.https://www.mdpi.com/2310-2861/11/1/44polyurethane/graphene nanoplatelet aerogelthermal insulationopacifiersscatteringinfrared radiation |
| spellingShingle | Jaime Lledó Judith Martín-de León Tomás E. Gómez Álvarez-Arenas Miguel Ángel Rodríguez-Pérez Beatriz Merillas Studying the Size-Dependence of Graphene Nanoplatelets (GNPs) in the Final Properties of Polyurethane Aerogels: Thermal Insulation and Mechanical Strength Gels polyurethane/graphene nanoplatelet aerogel thermal insulation opacifiers scattering infrared radiation |
| title | Studying the Size-Dependence of Graphene Nanoplatelets (GNPs) in the Final Properties of Polyurethane Aerogels: Thermal Insulation and Mechanical Strength |
| title_full | Studying the Size-Dependence of Graphene Nanoplatelets (GNPs) in the Final Properties of Polyurethane Aerogels: Thermal Insulation and Mechanical Strength |
| title_fullStr | Studying the Size-Dependence of Graphene Nanoplatelets (GNPs) in the Final Properties of Polyurethane Aerogels: Thermal Insulation and Mechanical Strength |
| title_full_unstemmed | Studying the Size-Dependence of Graphene Nanoplatelets (GNPs) in the Final Properties of Polyurethane Aerogels: Thermal Insulation and Mechanical Strength |
| title_short | Studying the Size-Dependence of Graphene Nanoplatelets (GNPs) in the Final Properties of Polyurethane Aerogels: Thermal Insulation and Mechanical Strength |
| title_sort | studying the size dependence of graphene nanoplatelets gnps in the final properties of polyurethane aerogels thermal insulation and mechanical strength |
| topic | polyurethane/graphene nanoplatelet aerogel thermal insulation opacifiers scattering infrared radiation |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2310-2861/11/1/44 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT jaimelledo studyingthesizedependenceofgraphenenanoplateletsgnpsinthefinalpropertiesofpolyurethaneaerogelsthermalinsulationandmechanicalstrength AT judithmartindeleon studyingthesizedependenceofgraphenenanoplateletsgnpsinthefinalpropertiesofpolyurethaneaerogelsthermalinsulationandmechanicalstrength AT tomasegomezalvarezarenas studyingthesizedependenceofgraphenenanoplateletsgnpsinthefinalpropertiesofpolyurethaneaerogelsthermalinsulationandmechanicalstrength AT miguelangelrodriguezperez studyingthesizedependenceofgraphenenanoplateletsgnpsinthefinalpropertiesofpolyurethaneaerogelsthermalinsulationandmechanicalstrength AT beatrizmerillas studyingthesizedependenceofgraphenenanoplateletsgnpsinthefinalpropertiesofpolyurethaneaerogelsthermalinsulationandmechanicalstrength |