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Monolithic Aerogels and Their Applications in Airborne Nanoparticle Filtration

Kim, Sung Jun
http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=akron1459870002

Abstract Details

2016, Doctor of Philosophy, University of Akron, Polymer Engineering.
Several interrelated problems were studied in this thesis research involving mesoporous silica aerogels, macroporous d-form syndiotactic polystyrene aerogels, and their hybrid aerogel systems. In the first part of the study, a rapid manufacturing method was developed for fabrication of aerogel monoliths where the objective was to reduce the fabrication time from several days in conventional methods to less than a day. It was found that the use of high temperature in the steps of aging and chemical modification and the use of ultrasound in washing step are key elements for shortening of the production time. In the second part of the study, sensitivity of silica aerogel bulk density to pH of the sol in condensation reaction step was investigated. In conjunction a successful method of production of silica aerogel monolith with gradient density was developed. It was found that pH in the range of 7.4 – 8.5 in the condensation step can significantly influence both skeletal density and bulk density values. The bulk density decreases but skeletal density increases with an increase of pH. Silane sols prepared with pH in the range 7.4 – 8.5 and sequentially injected in a mold resulted in a gradient density aerogel with 30 % change in density across a 12 mm long monolith. This method of fabrication of gradient density aerogel is much simpler and easily adaptable to net shape manufacturing process. The final part of the study focused on the application of aerogel monoliths in airborne nanoparticle filtration. A key objective of the part was to improve filtration efficiency without sacrificing air permeability. It was found that significant macroporosity is needed to handle air permeability, while mesoporosity and electrostatic forces are required for achieving nanoparticle efficiency greater than 99.95 %.
Sadhan Jana, Dr. (Advisor)
Bryan Vogt, Dr. (Committee Chair)
Younjin Min , Dr. (Committee Member)
Mesfin Tsige, Dr. (Committee Member)
George Chase, Dr. (Committee Member)
197 p.
Chemical Engineering; Engineering; Environmental Engineering; Experiments; Materials Science; Nanoscience; Physics; Polymer Chemistry; Polymers

Recommended Citations

Citations

  • Kim, S. J. (2016). Monolithic Aerogels and Their Applications in Airborne Nanoparticle Filtration [Doctoral dissertation, University of Akron]. OhioLINK Electronic Theses and Dissertations Center. http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=akron1459870002

    APA Style (7th edition)

  • Kim, Sung Jun. Monolithic Aerogels and Their Applications in Airborne Nanoparticle Filtration. 2016. University of Akron, Doctoral dissertation. OhioLINK Electronic Theses and Dissertations Center, http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=akron1459870002.

    MLA Style (8th edition)

  • Kim, Sung Jun. "Monolithic Aerogels and Their Applications in Airborne Nanoparticle Filtration." Doctoral dissertation, University of Akron, 2016. http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=akron1459870002

    Chicago Manual of Style (17th edition)

akron1459870002
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© 2016, all rights reserved.
This open access ETD is published by University of Akron and OhioLINK.