High-performance C/SiC composites ceramic aerogels via multiscale assembly for enhanced fire resistance and thermal insulation

Silicon carbide (SiC) aerogels are a promising insulation material due to their light weighting and chemical stability. However, the current high-strength SiC is accompanied by the problem of high thermal conductivity. Therefore, how to make SiC aerogels possess both mechanical strength and excellent thermal insulation properties is a challenge. Here, we report a multi-scale assembly strategy for the preparation of SiC aerogels. This strategy not only improves the strength of SiC aerogel, but also keeps the porosity of the material at a high level, so that the material has better thermal insulation performance. The compressive strength of the material can reach to 8.54 MPa. The material with a thickness of 5mm was sprayed continuously with a butane spray gun for 20 min, and the temperature on the back of the material increased to 153.3 oC. Therefore, the high-strength, high-insulation C/SiC composites ceramic aerogel prepared by this strategy provide a feasible way for the application of aerogels in enhancing fire resistance and building insulation.