SBA-15 mesoporous silica as a super insulating material

The thermal insulation behavior of ordered mesoporous silica SBA-15 aggregates heat treated at 300 ∘C was studied. An important decrease in the effective thermal conductivity according to the increase of the apparent density was observed. A thermal conductivity value less than 25 mW.m−1.K−1 was reached during the compaction phenomenon. Results of thermal conductivity were correlated to the electron microscopy observations and physicochemical data (X-ray diffraction, adsorption/desorption of nitrogen volumetric measurements). These thermal properties make these materials very promising for thermal insulation applications, especially with values inferior to the thermal conductivity of air.