Synthesis of sodium silicate based aerogels by ambient pressure drying and their physical properties

The experimental results on physical properties of water glass (sodium silicate) based silica aerogels prepared by single step sol-gel process, dried at atmospheric pressure are reported. The intention of this work was to produce and optimize the preparation of silica aerogel using low-cost material and easy as well as safe ambient pressure drying method. Surface of prepared hydrogel was modified by using TMCS as silylating agent to get hydrophobic aerogels. Silica aerogel were characterized by FTIR (Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy) used for study the chemical states or chemical bonding of silica aerogel. Increase in amount of water with respect to sodium silicate gelation time as well as density also increases. The hydrophobic nature of the prepared samples was studied through contact angle measurements.