{"status":"ok","message-type":"work","message-version":"1.0.0","message":{"indexed":{"date-parts":[[2026,2,27]],"date-time":"2026-02-27T08:21:45Z","timestamp":1772180505356,"version":"3.50.1"},"reference-count":27,"publisher":"MDPI AG","issue":"7","license":[{"start":{"date-parts":[[2022,6,21]],"date-time":"2022-06-21T00:00:00Z","timestamp":1655769600000},"content-version":"vor","delay-in-days":0,"URL":"https:\/\/creativecommons.org\/licenses\/by\/4.0\/"}],"funder":[{"DOI":"10.13039\/100014440","name":"FPU","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","award":["FPU17\/03299"],"award-info":[{"award-number":["FPU17\/03299"]}],"id":[{"id":"10.13039\/100014440","id-type":"DOI","asserted-by":"publisher"}]},{"DOI":"10.13039\/100014440","name":"FPU","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","award":["RTI2018-098749-B-I00"],"award-info":[{"award-number":["RTI2018-098749-B-I00"]}],"id":[{"id":"10.13039\/100014440","id-type":"DOI","asserted-by":"publisher"}]},{"DOI":"10.13039\/100014440","name":"FPU","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","award":["VA202P20"],"award-info":[{"award-number":["VA202P20"]}],"id":[{"id":"10.13039\/100014440","id-type":"DOI","asserted-by":"publisher"}]},{"DOI":"10.13039\/100014440","name":"FPU","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","award":["CLU-2019-04"],"award-info":[{"award-number":["CLU-2019-04"]}],"id":[{"id":"10.13039\/100014440","id-type":"DOI","asserted-by":"publisher"}]},{"DOI":"10.13039\/100014440","name":"FPU","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","award":["CA18125"],"award-info":[{"award-number":["CA18125"]}],"id":[{"id":"10.13039\/100014440","id-type":"DOI","asserted-by":"publisher"}]},{"DOI":"10.13039\/100014440","name":"FPU","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","award":["UID\/EQU\/00102\/2020"],"award-info":[{"award-number":["UID\/EQU\/00102\/2020"]}],"id":[{"id":"10.13039\/100014440","id-type":"DOI","asserted-by":"publisher"}]},{"DOI":"10.13039\/100014440","name":"Ministerio de Ciencia, Innovaci\u00f3n y Universidades","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","award":["FPU17\/03299"],"award-info":[{"award-number":["FPU17\/03299"]}],"id":[{"id":"10.13039\/100014440","id-type":"DOI","asserted-by":"publisher"}]},{"DOI":"10.13039\/100014440","name":"Ministerio de Ciencia, Innovaci\u00f3n y Universidades","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","award":["RTI2018-098749-B-I00"],"award-info":[{"award-number":["RTI2018-098749-B-I00"]}],"id":[{"id":"10.13039\/100014440","id-type":"DOI","asserted-by":"publisher"}]},{"DOI":"10.13039\/100014440","name":"Ministerio de Ciencia, Innovaci\u00f3n y Universidades","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","award":["VA202P20"],"award-info":[{"award-number":["VA202P20"]}],"id":[{"id":"10.13039\/100014440","id-type":"DOI","asserted-by":"publisher"}]},{"DOI":"10.13039\/100014440","name":"Ministerio de Ciencia, Innovaci\u00f3n y Universidades","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","award":["CLU-2019-04"],"award-info":[{"award-number":["CLU-2019-04"]}],"id":[{"id":"10.13039\/100014440","id-type":"DOI","asserted-by":"publisher"}]},{"DOI":"10.13039\/100014440","name":"Ministerio de Ciencia, Innovaci\u00f3n y Universidades","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","award":["CA18125"],"award-info":[{"award-number":["CA18125"]}],"id":[{"id":"10.13039\/100014440","id-type":"DOI","asserted-by":"publisher"}]},{"DOI":"10.13039\/100014440","name":"Ministerio de Ciencia, Innovaci\u00f3n y Universidades","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","award":["UID\/EQU\/00102\/2020"],"award-info":[{"award-number":["UID\/EQU\/00102\/2020"]}],"id":[{"id":"10.13039\/100014440","id-type":"DOI","asserted-by":"publisher"}]},{"DOI":"10.13039\/501100008431","name":"Junta de Castilla y Le\u00f3n","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","award":["FPU17\/03299"],"award-info":[{"award-number":["FPU17\/03299"]}],"id":[{"id":"10.13039\/501100008431","id-type":"DOI","asserted-by":"publisher"}]},{"DOI":"10.13039\/501100008431","name":"Junta de Castilla y Le\u00f3n","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","award":["RTI2018-098749-B-I00"],"award-info":[{"award-number":["RTI2018-098749-B-I00"]}],"id":[{"id":"10.13039\/501100008431","id-type":"DOI","asserted-by":"publisher"}]},{"DOI":"10.13039\/501100008431","name":"Junta de Castilla y Le\u00f3n","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","award":["VA202P20"],"award-info":[{"award-number":["VA202P20"]}],"id":[{"id":"10.13039\/501100008431","id-type":"DOI","asserted-by":"publisher"}]},{"DOI":"10.13039\/501100008431","name":"Junta de Castilla y Le\u00f3n","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","award":["CLU-2019-04"],"award-info":[{"award-number":["CLU-2019-04"]}],"id":[{"id":"10.13039\/501100008431","id-type":"DOI","asserted-by":"publisher"}]},{"DOI":"10.13039\/501100008431","name":"Junta de Castilla y Le\u00f3n","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","award":["CA18125"],"award-info":[{"award-number":["CA18125"]}],"id":[{"id":"10.13039\/501100008431","id-type":"DOI","asserted-by":"publisher"}]},{"DOI":"10.13039\/501100008431","name":"Junta de Castilla y Le\u00f3n","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","award":["UID\/EQU\/00102\/2020"],"award-info":[{"award-number":["UID\/EQU\/00102\/2020"]}],"id":[{"id":"10.13039\/501100008431","id-type":"DOI","asserted-by":"publisher"}]},{"name":"Regional Government of Castilla y Le\u00f3n and the EU-FEDER program","award":["FPU17\/03299"],"award-info":[{"award-number":["FPU17\/03299"]}]},{"name":"Regional Government of Castilla y Le\u00f3n and the EU-FEDER program","award":["RTI2018-098749-B-I00"],"award-info":[{"award-number":["RTI2018-098749-B-I00"]}]},{"name":"Regional Government of Castilla y Le\u00f3n and the EU-FEDER program","award":["VA202P20"],"award-info":[{"award-number":["VA202P20"]}]},{"name":"Regional Government of Castilla y Le\u00f3n and the EU-FEDER program","award":["CLU-2019-04"],"award-info":[{"award-number":["CLU-2019-04"]}]},{"name":"Regional Government of Castilla y Le\u00f3n and the EU-FEDER program","award":["CA18125"],"award-info":[{"award-number":["CA18125"]}]},{"name":"Regional Government of Castilla y Le\u00f3n and the EU-FEDER program","award":["UID\/EQU\/00102\/2020"],"award-info":[{"award-number":["UID\/EQU\/00102\/2020"]}]},{"name":"European Commission","award":["FPU17\/03299"],"award-info":[{"award-number":["FPU17\/03299"]}]},{"name":"European Commission","award":["RTI2018-098749-B-I00"],"award-info":[{"award-number":["RTI2018-098749-B-I00"]}]},{"name":"European Commission","award":["VA202P20"],"award-info":[{"award-number":["VA202P20"]}]},{"name":"European Commission","award":["CLU-2019-04"],"award-info":[{"award-number":["CLU-2019-04"]}]},{"name":"European Commission","award":["CA18125"],"award-info":[{"award-number":["CA18125"]}]},{"name":"European Commission","award":["UID\/EQU\/00102\/2020"],"award-info":[{"award-number":["UID\/EQU\/00102\/2020"]}]},{"name":"Portuguese Foundation for Science and Technology","award":["FPU17\/03299"],"award-info":[{"award-number":["FPU17\/03299"]}]},{"name":"Portuguese Foundation for Science and Technology","award":["RTI2018-098749-B-I00"],"award-info":[{"award-number":["RTI2018-098749-B-I00"]}]},{"name":"Portuguese Foundation for Science and Technology","award":["VA202P20"],"award-info":[{"award-number":["VA202P20"]}]},{"name":"Portuguese Foundation for Science and Technology","award":["CLU-2019-04"],"award-info":[{"award-number":["CLU-2019-04"]}]},{"name":"Portuguese Foundation for Science and Technology","award":["CA18125"],"award-info":[{"award-number":["CA18125"]}]},{"name":"Portuguese Foundation for Science and Technology","award":["UID\/EQU\/00102\/2020"],"award-info":[{"award-number":["UID\/EQU\/00102\/2020"]}]}],"content-domain":{"domain":[],"crossmark-restriction":false},"short-container-title":["Gels"],"abstract":"<jats:p>In this work, silica aerogel composites reinforced with reticulated polyurethane (PU) foams have been manufactured having densities in the range from 117 to 266 kg\/m3 and porosities between 85.7 and 92.3%. Two different drying processes were employed (ambient pressure drying and supercritical drying) and a surface modification step was applied to some of the silica formulations. These composites, together with the reference PU foam and the monolithic silica aerogels, were fully characterized in terms of their textural properties, mechanical properties and thermal conductivities. The surface modification with hexamethyldisilazane (HMDZ) proved to improve the cohesion between the reticulated foam and the silica aerogels, giving rise to a continuous network of aerogel reinforced by a polyurethane porous structure. The samples dried under supercritical conditions showed the best interaction between matrixes as well as mechanical and insulating properties. These samples present better mechanical properties than the monolithic aerogels having a higher elastic modulus (from 130 to 450 kPa), a really exceptional flexibility and resilience, and the capacity of being deformed without breaking. Moreover, these silica aerogel-polyurethane foam (Sil-PU) composites showed an excellent insulating capacity, reaching thermal conductivities as low as 14 mW\/(m\u00b7K).<\/jats:p>","DOI":"10.3390\/gels8070392","type":"journal-article","created":{"date-parts":[[2022,6,21]],"date-time":"2022-06-21T21:55:19Z","timestamp":1655848519000},"page":"392","update-policy":"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.3390\/mdpi_crossmark_policy","source":"Crossref","is-referenced-by-count":29,"title":["Silica-Based Aerogel Composites Reinforced with Reticulated Polyurethane Foams: Thermal and Mechanical Properties"],"prefix":"10.3390","volume":"8","author":[{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0003-2995-6412","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Beatriz","family":"Merillas","sequence":"first","affiliation":[{"name":"Cellular Materials Laboratory (CellMat), Condensed Matter Physics Department, Faculty of Science, University of Valladolid, Paseo de Bel\u00e9n 7, 47011 Valladolid, Spain"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0002-5948-0921","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Alyne","family":"Lamy-Mendes","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"CIEPQPF, Department of Chemical Engineering, University of Coimbra, Rua S\u00edlvio Lima, 3030-790 Coimbra, Portugal"}]},{"given":"Fernando","family":"Villafa\u00f1e","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"GIR MIOMeT-IU Cinquima-Qu\u00edmica Inorg\u00e1nica, Faculty of Science, University of Valladolid, Paseo de Bel\u00e9n 7, 47011 Valladolid, Spain"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0003-3336-2449","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Luisa","family":"Dur\u00e3es","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"CIEPQPF, Department of Chemical Engineering, University of Coimbra, Rua S\u00edlvio Lima, 3030-790 Coimbra, Portugal"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0002-3607-690X","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Miguel \u00c1ngel","family":"Rodr\u00edguez-P\u00e9rez","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Cellular Materials Laboratory (CellMat), Condensed Matter Physics Department, Faculty of Science, University of Valladolid, Paseo de Bel\u00e9n 7, 47011 Valladolid, Spain"},{"name":"BioEcoUVA Research Institute on Bioeconomy, University of Valladolid, 47011 Valladolid, Spain"}]}],"member":"1968","published-online":{"date-parts":[[2022,6,21]]},"reference":[{"key":"ref_1","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"741","DOI":"10.1038\/127741a0","article-title":"Coherent Expanded Aerogels and Jellies","volume":"127","author":"Kistler","year":"1931","journal-title":"Nature"},{"key":"ref_2","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"52","DOI":"10.1021\/j150331a003","article-title":"Coherent expanded aerogels","volume":"36","author":"Kistler","year":"1932","journal-title":"J. Phys. Chem."},{"key":"ref_3","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"228","DOI":"10.1016\/j.supflu.2017.12.037","article-title":"Aerogel production: Current status, research directions, and future opportunities","volume":"134","author":"Smirnova","year":"2018","journal-title":"J. Supercrit. Fluids"},{"key":"ref_4","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"1291","DOI":"10.1016\/j.msec.2006.06.032","article-title":"Hydrophobic silica aerogels derived from polyethoxydisiloxane and perfluoroalkylsilane","volume":"27","author":"Zhou","year":"2007","journal-title":"Mater. Sci. Eng. C"},{"key":"ref_5","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"761","DOI":"10.1016\/j.enbuild.2010.12.012","article-title":"Aerogel insulation for building applications: A state-of-the-art review","volume":"43","author":"Baetens","year":"2011","journal-title":"Energy Build."},{"key":"ref_6","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"120517","DOI":"10.1016\/j.jnoncrysol.2020.120517","article-title":"A review of silicon-based aerogel thermal insulation materials: Performance optimization through composition and microstructure","volume":"553","author":"Li","year":"2021","journal-title":"J. Non. Cryst. Solids"},{"key":"ref_7","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"10812","DOI":"10.1007\/s10853-021-05997-w","article-title":"A review of recent progress on the silica aerogel monoliths: Synthesis, reinforcement, and applications","volume":"56","author":"Lin","year":"2021","journal-title":"J. Mater. Sci."},{"key":"ref_8","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"55","DOI":"10.1016\/j.jnoncrysol.2013.10.017","article-title":"An overview on silica aerogels synthesis and different mechanical reinforcing strategies","volume":"385","author":"Maleki","year":"2014","journal-title":"J. Non. Cryst. Solids"},{"key":"ref_9","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"109575","DOI":"10.1016\/j.micromeso.2019.109575","article-title":"Polysilsesquioxane-based silica aerogel monoliths with embedded CNTs","volume":"288","author":"Silva","year":"2019","journal-title":"Microporous Mesoporous Mater."},{"key":"ref_10","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"391","DOI":"10.1007\/s10971-018-4645-7","article-title":"Reinforced silica-carbon nanotube monolithic aerogels synthesised by rapid controlled gelation","volume":"86","author":"Esquivias","year":"2018","journal-title":"J. Sol-Gel Sci. Technol."},{"key":"ref_11","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"316","DOI":"10.1016\/j.compositesa.2016.02.014","article-title":"Aramid fibers reinforced silica aerogel composites with low thermal conductivity and improved mechanical performance","volume":"84","author":"Li","year":"2016","journal-title":"Compos. Part A Appl. Sci. Manuf."},{"key":"ref_12","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"111","DOI":"10.1016\/j.enbuild.2016.06.071","article-title":"Thermal assessment of ambient pressure dried silica aerogel composite boards at laboratory and field scale","volume":"128","author":"Goiti","year":"2016","journal-title":"Energy Build."},{"key":"ref_13","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"113","DOI":"10.1016\/j.compositesa.2017.09.018","article-title":"Thermal superinsulating silica aerogels reinforced with short man-made cellulose fibers","volume":"103","author":"Jaxel","year":"2017","journal-title":"Compos. Part A Appl. Sci. Manuf."},{"key":"ref_14","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"81","DOI":"10.1016\/j.supflu.2019.02.010","article-title":"Effect of different silylation agents on the properties of ambient pressure dried and supercritically dried vinyl-modified silica aerogels","volume":"147","author":"Torres","year":"2019","journal-title":"J. Supercrit. Fluids"},{"key":"ref_15","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"52","DOI":"10.1016\/j.jnoncrysol.2016.11.017","article-title":"Mechanical, thermal and flammability properties of glass fiber film\/silica aerogel composites","volume":"457","author":"Li","year":"2017","journal-title":"J. Non. Cryst. Solids"},{"key":"ref_16","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"64","DOI":"10.1007\/s10971-017-4383-2","article-title":"Synthesis and characterization of ambient-dried microglass fibers\/silica aerogel nanocomposites with low thermal conductivity","volume":"83","author":"Jiang","year":"2017","journal-title":"J. Sol-Gel Sci. Technol."},{"key":"ref_17","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"1305","DOI":"10.1007\/s10934-019-00732-y","article-title":"Ultralight and thermal insulation carbon foam\/SiO 2 aerogel composites","volume":"26","author":"Liu","year":"2019","journal-title":"J. Porous Mater."},{"key":"ref_18","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"107409","DOI":"10.1016\/j.compositesb.2019.107409","article-title":"Microstructure characterization and thermal performance of reticulated SiC skeleton reinforced silica aerogel composites","volume":"177","author":"Ye","year":"2019","journal-title":"Compos. Part B"},{"key":"ref_19","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"65","DOI":"10.1016\/j.scriptamat.2019.10.010","article-title":"Mechanical properties and behavior of glass fiber-reinforced silica aerogel nanocomposites: Insights from all-atom simulations","volume":"177","author":"Patil","year":"2020","journal-title":"Scr. Mater."},{"key":"ref_20","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"1293","DOI":"10.1080\/00405000.2018.1559916","article-title":"A study of the heat insulation performance of pre-oxidized fiber felts of silica aerogel\/silicon carbide composite coatings","volume":"110","author":"Liu","year":"2019","journal-title":"J. Text. Inst."},{"key":"ref_21","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"51","DOI":"10.1007\/s10853-009-3888-7","article-title":"Modifying the surface energy and hydrophobicity of the low-density silica aerogels through the use of combinations of surface-modification agents","volume":"45","year":"2010","journal-title":"J. Mater. Sci."},{"key":"ref_22","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"57","DOI":"10.1016\/j.polymer.2014.10.006","article-title":"Experimental validation of the Knudsen effect in nanocellular polymeric foams","volume":"56","author":"Notario","year":"2015","journal-title":"Polymer"},{"key":"ref_23","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"1166","DOI":"10.1007\/BF01142014","article-title":"Skeletal density of silica aerogels determined by helium pycnometry","volume":"27","author":"Ayral","year":"1992","journal-title":"J. Mater. Sci."},{"key":"ref_24","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Buratti, C., and Moretti, E. (2013). Silica nanogel for energy-efficient windows. Nanotechnology in Eco-Efficient Construction: Materials, Processes and Applications, Woodhead Publishing.","DOI":"10.1533\/9780857098832.2.207"},{"key":"ref_25","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"373","DOI":"10.1021\/ja01145a126","article-title":"The Determination of Pore Volume and Area Distributions in Porous Substances. I. Computations from Nitrogen Isotherms","volume":"73","author":"Barrett","year":"1951","journal-title":"J. Am. Chem. Soc."},{"key":"ref_26","unstructured":"(2017). Standard Test Method for Steady-State Thermal Transmission Properties by Means of the Heat Flow Meter Apparatus (Standard No. ASTM C518)."},{"key":"ref_27","unstructured":"(1991). Thermal Insulation\u2014Determination of Steady-State Thermal Resistance and Related Properties\u2014Heat Flow Meter Apparatus (Standard No. ISO 8301:1991)."}],"container-title":["Gels"],"original-title":[],"language":"en","link":[{"URL":"https:\/\/www.mdpi.com\/2310-2861\/8\/7\/392\/pdf","content-type":"unspecified","content-version":"vor","intended-application":"similarity-checking"}],"deposited":{"date-parts":[[2025,10,10]],"date-time":"2025-10-10T23:36:19Z","timestamp":1760139379000},"score":1,"resource":{"primary":{"URL":"https:\/\/www.mdpi.com\/2310-2861\/8\/7\/392"}},"subtitle":[],"short-title":[],"issued":{"date-parts":[[2022,6,21]]},"references-count":27,"journal-issue":{"issue":"7","published-online":{"date-parts":[[2022,7]]}},"alternative-id":["gels8070392"],"URL":"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.3390\/gels8070392","relation":{},"ISSN":["2310-2861"],"issn-type":[{"value":"2310-2861","type":"electronic"}],"subject":[],"published":{"date-parts":[[2022,6,21]]}}}