High-temperature resistance performance of silica aerogel composites through fiber reinforcement

Aiming to meet the fireproof requirements for bridges, three fiber/silica aerogel composites were fabricated using basalt fiber, a composite of basalt fiber and high silica glass fiber, and high silica glass fiber as the matrix. The dimensional, structural, mechanical, and thermal insulation stability of these composites under high-temperature heating ranging from 800 °C to 1000 °C were systematically studied. Upon high-temperature heating, the fracture and deformation basalt fiber occurred, leading to the breakage of the fiber skeleton and the aerogel integrity. This resulted in significant densification and a consequent decrease in porosity in the heated basalt fiber/aerogel composite and basalt fiber-high silica glass fiber/silica aerogel composite. Crystallization of basalt fiber began after heating to 800 °C and fully completed at 1000 °C. Besides, part of the high silica glass fiber in the basalt fiber-high silica glass fiber/silica aerogel composite crystallized at 900 °C and 1000 °C. These variations in micro-macro structures and phase compositions led to a substantial degradation of mechanical property and thermal insulation performance in the composites containing basalt fiber. In sharp contrast, the fiber skeleton and aerogel integrity remained relatively stable under high-temperature heating, enabling a synergistic thermal insulation effect of fiber and aerogel. The integrated fiber skeleton reduced the radiative thermal conductivity of the aerogel, while the unbroken aerogel protected the fiber from crystallization. Consequently, the mechanical property and thermal insulation performance of the high silica glass fiber/silica aerogel composite remained stable after high-temperature heating. The ultimate tensile strength and thermal conductivity of the pristine and 1000 °C-heated high silica glass fiber/silica aerogel composite were 0.74 MPa and 0.53 MPa, 0.0213 W/(m·K), and 0.0279 W/(m·K), respectively. This novel composite, exhibiting low thermal conductivity, high strength, excellent thermal stability, is expected to be a desirable candidate for bridge fireproof applications.