Preparation of thermal resistant, flame retardant, and flexible aramid aerogel fiber, and investigation of suitable polymer structure to prepare aerogel

2021 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 19K05611
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research (C)
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Section: 一般
• Review Section: Basic Section 35020:Polymer materials-related
• Research Institution: University of Fukui
• Principal Investigator: Hirogaki Kazumasa 福井大学, 学術研究院工学系部門, 准教授 (00512740)
• Project Period (FY): 2019-04-01 – 2022-03-31
• Keywords: エアロゲル / 超臨界乾燥 / アラミド / 多孔質 / 柔軟性 / 断熱性 / 低密度 / 湿式紡糸

Outline of Final Research Achievements

We have succeeded to prepare a nano-porous flexible aerogel fiber by using a para-aramid fiber with heat resistance and flame retardancy as a raw material. In this process, we have found that a polymer structure suitable for a precursor of aerogel is rigid and linier structure with a strong intermolecular interaction. But it is required to adjust the intermolecular interaction to obtain a high-quality aerogel. The aerogel fiber was constructed from ca. 20 nm of pillars and ca. 10 nm of pores, and its porosity more than 90 % and showed a strength reaching a polyester fiber with 3 cN/dtex. It had high heat insulating properties and suppressed to melt ice through one layer of fibers (thickness ca. 100 μm)) on a hot plate at 120 degree C.

Free Research Field

繊維・高分子材料、染色化学、コロイド化学

Academic Significance and Societal Importance of the Research Achievements

本研究により、エアロゲル化に適した高分子を設計することができ、従来にない高性能なエアロゲルや、種々の特性・機能を持つエアロゲルの創造に繋がる。一方で、堅く柔軟で耐熱性や難燃性を持つエアロゲル繊維が創出されたことで、従来のエアロゲルでは脆さや易燃性から困難であった用途に使用でき、エアロゲルの特徴を活かした高性能な基礎材料として、科学技術発展に寄与する。