Lightweight Heat Insulators: Enhanced EPDM Composites Through Silica Aerogel Integration

This study explores the development of lightweight thermal insulators based on ethylene propylene diene monomer (EPDM) reinforced with silica aerogel. Silica aerogel was synthesized via a sol-gel process and characterized using BET and FE-SEM analyses. It revealed its highly porous structure and low-density properties, making it an ideal reinforcement material. The EPDM composites were formulated with different silica aerogel concentrations (۱۰-۳۰ phr) and evaluated for their mechanical, thermal, and ablative properties. The incorporation of silica aerogel significantly enhanced the mechanical performance of the composites, with the tensile strength, modulus, and elongation at break increasing by ۲۴۵%, ۱۵۹%, and ۴۳%, respectively, at ۲۰ phr loading, compared to the pure elastomer. The thermal conductivity of the composites was reduced by ۲۲%, demonstrating superior insulation properties over fumed silica-filled EPDM. Thermogravimetric analysis indicated improved thermal stability, with a maximum degradation temperature of ۴۷۴°C for the ۳۰ phr silica aerogel-filled composite. Additionally, ablation tests confirmed that silica aerogel/EPDM composites exhibited enhanced char layer tenacity, further improved by including Kevlar pulp. The resulting material demonstrated superior resistance to high-temperature environments, making it suitable for aerospace and thermal protection applications. These findings establish silica aerogel as a promising reinforcement for EPDM-based thermal insulators. It offers a balance between lightweight properties, enhanced mechanical strength, and superior thermal insulation. Future research should focus on optimizing aerogel synthesis methods and exploring hybrid reinforcement strategies to further improve the industrial applicability of these composites.

کلیدواژه ها:

EPDM Composites ، Thermal Management ، Silica Aerogel ، Ablation Resistance ، characterization