Silica gel plate with bimodal pores for material with function both heat insulation and humidity control capacity

Abstract

Plates of silica gel were prepared by a sol-gel method, and their applicability as a heat insulator was investigated. Bimodal porous silica had high porosity over 90%, and thermal conductivity of it was as low as that of air. Macropores were effective in gas transportation and mesopores which had size of between about 1.7 and 15 nm had the function of humidity control. Therefore, it is considered that the bimodal porous silica is expected as a new multi-functional heat-insulator with both function of insulation and humidity control capacity.