Heat-insulating aerogel composites for a hydrothermal reactor

The SiO 2 –TiO 2 aerogel composites used in the heat insulation of a hydrothermal reactor and the method of their fabrication using a liquid glass technology are analyzed. The process of fabrication of the composite material includes the following stages: the ion exchange of sodium liquid glass with the formation of silica hydrosol; the concentration of hydrosol; the formation of hydrogel and its maturing; the formation of alcogel of an SiO 2 –TiO 2 composite material; surface modification; subcritical drying of alcogel with the formation of SiO 2 –TiO 2 composite ambigel; and its heat treatment, granulation, and classification. The influence of infrared absorber (titanium dioxide) and the temperature of heat treatment of an SiO 2 –TiO 2 aerogel composite material on its structural and thermal characteristics is studied.