Essay --

Aerogel is a synthetic porous ultra-light real(a) derived from a gel, in which the liquid component of the gel has been replaced with a gas, resulting in a solid with extremely low density and low thermic conductivity. Nicknames include frozen smoke, solid smoke, solid seam or blue smoke owing to its translucent quality and the mood light scatters in the material. However, it feels like Styrofoam to the touch. Aerogels ar solid, rigid, dry materials that do non resemble a gel in their physical properties. Pressing thinly on an aerogel usually does not leave even a tike mark pressing more firmly will leave a permanent depression. Despite the fact that it is susceptible to to shattering, it is very strong structurally. Aerogels are good thermal insulators because they are adept at counteracting the three methods of passion transfer (convection, conduction, and radiation). They are good conductive insulators because they are composed around entirely from a gas, and gases are v ery poor heat managers. silica aerogel is especially good because silica is also a poor conductor of heat (a metallic aerogel, on the other hand, would be less effective). Aerogels are poor radioactive insulators because infrared radiation passes right through silica aerogel. Aerogels by themselves are hydrophilic, but chemical treatment pile stigma them hydrophobic. If they absorb moisture they usually suffer a structural change, much(prenominal) as contraction, and deteriorate, but this can be prevented by making them hydrophobic. Aerogel was fuck off in the late 1930s by chemist Samuel Stephens Kistler. He complaisant this by the process of super captious changeful drying. A supercritical fluid is any substance at a temperature and pressure above its critical poi... ...st spacecraft. The particles vaporize on impact with solids and pass through gases, but can be trapped in aerogels.NASA used aerogel for thermal insulation of the damage Rover and space suits.The US Navy i s evaluating aerogel undergarments to be used as thermal protection for divers.Dunlop Sport uses aerogel in some of its racquets for tennis, squash and badminton.The performance and use of silica aerogels is nonthreatening to the environment. No considerably hazardous wastes are created during their construction. The disposition of silica aerogels is harmless. In the environment, they quickly crush into a fine pulverisation that is basically identical to sand. Additionally, silica aerogels are completely non-toxic and non-flammable. If they eventually find their way into widespread use, they could eradicate a very large mensuration of unwanted, hazardous plastic materials.