Abstract:
The present invention discloses a high-temperature stable, low density and transparent silica aerogel prepared by carrying out a sol-gel process of a mixture containing a main precursor of inorganic siloxane and a high-temperature stable precursor to form a wet gel, wherein the high-temperature stable precursor and the main precursor undergo covalent-bond crosslinking; aging and supercritical drying the wet gel to form a low density, tough, hydrophobic silica aerogel of a porous network structure. The hydrophobation of the aerogel of the present invention prevails after several times of heating at 500° C., and the structure of the aerogel will not collapse caused by moisture.