This essential handbook provides comprehensive coverage of the current state-of-the-art in inorganic, organic, and composite aerogels, from synthesis and characterization through the latest applications and their possible market impact. Built on the successful published in 2011, this book has been extensively revised and updated to reflect the changes in this fast-growing field. Aerogels are the lightest solids known to man. Up to 1000 times lighter than glass and with a density only four times that of air, they possess exceedingly high thermal, electrical, and acoustic insulation properties, and hold many entries in . Originally based on silica, R&D efforts have extended this class of materials to incorporate non-silicate inorganic oxides, natural and synthetic organic polymers, carbon, metal, and ceramic materials. Composite systems involving polymer-crosslinked aerogels and interpenetrating hybrid networks have been developed and exhibit remarkable mechanical strength and flexibility. Even more exotic aerogels based on clays, chalcogenides, phosphides, quantum dots, and biopolymers such as chitosan are opening new applications for the construction, transportation, energy, defense and healthcare industries. Applications in electronics, chemistry, mechanics, engineering, energy production and storage, sensors, medicine, nanotechnology, military and aerospace, oil and gas recovery, thermal insulation, and household uses are being developed. weiterlesen