Didik Purwanto, Yustia Wulandari
Chemical Engineering Department, Adhi Tama Surabaya Institute of Technology (ITATS)
Jl. Arief Rachman Hakim 100 Surabaya 60117
Abstract
The objective of present research was to find effect of concentration of water-glass and HMDZ (Hexamethyldisilazane) on silica aerogels synthesized via an ambient pressure. The surface modification resulted in the displacement of pore water from the hydrogels. In order to obtain the aerogels using water-glass precusssor, we mix water, water-glass, HMDZ an ion exchange resin. The base catalyst (ammonium hydroxide) was added to sol so as to accomplish gelation. The gels were aged at 30ºC for 3 days. After aging, the gels were cut 2×2×1 cm to dried at an ambient pressure (1 atm) in three successive steps as follows : at 80ºC for 15 h, at 110ºC for 3 h and finally, at 150ºC for 3 h.
The physical and texture properties of silica aerogels have been reported as the results of the research. The resulting aerogels were cracked bulks, white and having surface area 469,6 to 696,8 cm2/gr.
Keywords: aerogel, ambient pressure drying, silica, sililation agent, water-glass