Synthesis and characterization of bamboo leaf based carbon-opacified silica aerogel (COSA) / Kow Kien Woh

Silica aerogel with extremely low thermal conductivity has great potential to be used as thermal insulating material. Its application is currently restricted by the expensive raw materials such as tetramethyl-orthosilicate (TMOS) and tetraethyl-orthosilicate (TEOS). In addition, pure silica aerogel...

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Main Author: Kow, Kien Woh
Format: Thesis
Published: 2014
Subjects:
Online Access:http://studentsrepo.um.edu.my/7585/
http://studentsrepo.um.edu.my/7585/2/Thesis_Compiled.docx
http://studentsrepo.um.edu.my/7585/5/Thesis_%2528Kow_Kien_Woh%2529.pdf
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author Kow, Kien Woh
author_facet Kow, Kien Woh
author_sort Kow, Kien Woh
building UM Research Repository
collection Online Access
description Silica aerogel with extremely low thermal conductivity has great potential to be used as thermal insulating material. Its application is currently restricted by the expensive raw materials such as tetramethyl-orthosilicate (TMOS) and tetraethyl-orthosilicate (TEOS). In addition, pure silica aerogel has low absorption of infrared radiation at 3 – 8 μm and led to increase in thermal conductivity at high temperature. Carbon is commonly used as an opacifier in silica aerogel to absorb the radiation and therefore suppress thermal conductivity of aerogel. However, separated source of carbon is required for the opacification of aerogel. Biomass such as bamboo leaves and cogon grass contain both silica and carbon. They can provide both sources to synthesize carbon-opacified silica aerogel (COSA). The use of biomass in the synthesis of COSA not only can reduce the cost of expensive raw materials, but also to minimize agriculture waste. Hence, this work is aimed to synthesize COSA by using biomass as a single source of raw material. Effects of gelation pH, carbon loading, silica concentration and temperatures on the thermal conductivity of COSA were investigated and optimized by using statistical model. Its thermal insulative performance was compared with the silica aerogel synthesized via conventional method including TEOS and carbon black. The study revealed that thermal conductivity of silica aerogel opacified with activated carbon is comparable to those opacified with carbon black. The result showed that optimal carbon loading which minimized the thermal conductivity present at different temperatures. Such optimal loading increased as temperature applied to the opacified aerogel increased. Tie lines that optimized thermal conductivity at different temperatures were obtained for various combinations of carbon loading and silica concentration. Thermo-gravimetry (TGA) results of the aerogels also indicate that opacified aerogel is thermally stable up to 495 °C and therefore suitable be used at high temperature.
first_indexed 2025-11-14T13:42:17Z
format Thesis
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institution University Malaya
institution_category Local University
last_indexed 2025-11-14T13:42:17Z
publishDate 2014
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repository_type Digital Repository
spelling um-75852017-11-28T04:45:26Z Synthesis and characterization of bamboo leaf based carbon-opacified silica aerogel (COSA) / Kow Kien Woh Kow, Kien Woh T Technology (General) TP Chemical technology Silica aerogel with extremely low thermal conductivity has great potential to be used as thermal insulating material. Its application is currently restricted by the expensive raw materials such as tetramethyl-orthosilicate (TMOS) and tetraethyl-orthosilicate (TEOS). In addition, pure silica aerogel has low absorption of infrared radiation at 3 – 8 μm and led to increase in thermal conductivity at high temperature. Carbon is commonly used as an opacifier in silica aerogel to absorb the radiation and therefore suppress thermal conductivity of aerogel. However, separated source of carbon is required for the opacification of aerogel. Biomass such as bamboo leaves and cogon grass contain both silica and carbon. They can provide both sources to synthesize carbon-opacified silica aerogel (COSA). The use of biomass in the synthesis of COSA not only can reduce the cost of expensive raw materials, but also to minimize agriculture waste. Hence, this work is aimed to synthesize COSA by using biomass as a single source of raw material. Effects of gelation pH, carbon loading, silica concentration and temperatures on the thermal conductivity of COSA were investigated and optimized by using statistical model. Its thermal insulative performance was compared with the silica aerogel synthesized via conventional method including TEOS and carbon black. The study revealed that thermal conductivity of silica aerogel opacified with activated carbon is comparable to those opacified with carbon black. The result showed that optimal carbon loading which minimized the thermal conductivity present at different temperatures. Such optimal loading increased as temperature applied to the opacified aerogel increased. Tie lines that optimized thermal conductivity at different temperatures were obtained for various combinations of carbon loading and silica concentration. Thermo-gravimetry (TGA) results of the aerogels also indicate that opacified aerogel is thermally stable up to 495 °C and therefore suitable be used at high temperature. 2014 Thesis NonPeerReviewed application/msword http://studentsrepo.um.edu.my/7585/2/Thesis_Compiled.docx application/pdf http://studentsrepo.um.edu.my/7585/5/Thesis_%2528Kow_Kien_Woh%2529.pdf Kow, Kien Woh (2014) Synthesis and characterization of bamboo leaf based carbon-opacified silica aerogel (COSA) / Kow Kien Woh. PhD thesis, University of Malaya. http://studentsrepo.um.edu.my/7585/
spellingShingle T Technology (General)
TP Chemical technology
Kow, Kien Woh
Synthesis and characterization of bamboo leaf based carbon-opacified silica aerogel (COSA) / Kow Kien Woh
title Synthesis and characterization of bamboo leaf based carbon-opacified silica aerogel (COSA) / Kow Kien Woh
title_full Synthesis and characterization of bamboo leaf based carbon-opacified silica aerogel (COSA) / Kow Kien Woh
title_fullStr Synthesis and characterization of bamboo leaf based carbon-opacified silica aerogel (COSA) / Kow Kien Woh
title_full_unstemmed Synthesis and characterization of bamboo leaf based carbon-opacified silica aerogel (COSA) / Kow Kien Woh
title_short Synthesis and characterization of bamboo leaf based carbon-opacified silica aerogel (COSA) / Kow Kien Woh
title_sort synthesis and characterization of bamboo leaf based carbon-opacified silica aerogel (cosa) / kow kien woh
topic T Technology (General)
TP Chemical technology
url http://studentsrepo.um.edu.my/7585/
http://studentsrepo.um.edu.my/7585/2/Thesis_Compiled.docx
http://studentsrepo.um.edu.my/7585/5/Thesis_%2528Kow_Kien_Woh%2529.pdf