Making silica aerogel at home

TL;DR

In this video, the creator showcases homemade pieces of aerogel and explains the process of making them, including the challenges faced and potential improvements.

Transcript

hey everyone I finally finished my aerogel project and was able to make a few small pieces of aerogel in my home shop so let me show you the pieces and then show you how I did it so check it out these actually came out fairly clear now the pieces are pretty well cracked I mean these these chunks are not exactly high-quality monoliths but I'm workin... Read More

Key Insights

• 👪 Homemade aerogel pieces with some cracks were successfully produced in a home shop.
• ⚓ Obtaining the necessary chemicals for aerogel production poses challenges as many suppliers do not ship to individuals.
• 😇 The gel must be soaked in methanol multiple times to remove water before entering the supercritical drying chamber.
• 😇 The supercritical drying process allows for the removal of the remaining solvent without compromising the structure of the gel.

Questions & Answers

Q: How did the creator obtain the chemicals needed for making aerogel?

The creator had to go through tricky means to acquire tetramethyl ortho silicate, as most chemical supply houses do not ship to individuals. They obtained it from a specific source and are willing to share some since they have a surplus.

Q: What are the main steps involved in the aerogel production process?

The first step is preparing a stock solution of ammonium hydroxide. Then, a gel mixture of tetraethyl orthosilicate and methanol, along with the ammonium hydroxide stock solution and methanol, is created. The mixture is poured into a mold and left to set into a gel.

Q: How is water removed from the gel during the drying process?

The gel is soaked in methanol, and over time, the water in the gel diffuses out into the methanol. This process is repeated by changing the solvent and waiting for several days until the gel is free from water.

Q: What is the purpose of the supercritical drying chamber?

The supercritical drying chamber is used to remove the remaining solvent (methanol) from the gel. By exchanging the methanol with liquid CO2, raising the temperature, and maintaining high pressure, the gel can be dried without disturbing its structure.

Summary & Key Takeaways

• The creator successfully made small pieces of aerogel in their home shop, although the quality is not perfect yet.

• The aerogel pieces are lightweight, weighing only about a gram and a half, and have a chalk-like texture.

• Obtaining the necessary chemicals for aerogel production, particularly tetramethyl ortho silicate, proved to be difficult.