SYNTHESIS OF FURAN RESIN BASED ORGANIC AEROGEL WITH ENHANCED
MECHANICAL PROPERTIES VIA SUBCRITICAL METHOD
17471507-040 (BS VII) Department Of Chemistry (University of Gujrat) Hafiz Hayat Campus)
ABSTRACT
Furan Resins are the polymers that are
obtained from various furan
compounds, of which furfuryl alcohol
and furfural being the most
commercially important compounds
due to their huge spectrum of
applications, in terms of usage-and-
volume, that are well recognized in the
research field of organically
synthesized aerogels based on the
extensive resinification of furfuryl
alcohol (cross-linking chain formation
due to methylolation, forming three
dimensional structural network via
condensation in the presence of Strong
acid catalyst) This research projects
aim is to focus on the synthesis of the
furfural crosslinked furfuryl alcohol.
INTRODUCTION
Organic aerogels have been significant
due to the structural properties of the
polymer framework that gives rise to
various properties such as less fragility
and friability as compared to that of
inorganic aerogels.. Furfural is used as
the crosslinking/curing agent, that adds
high resistance to solvent and acid and
alkalies resistance, resulting in a gel
formation that is later subjected to the
subcritical method of evaporation with
resistance properties. The liquid in the
gel is evaporated in gentle fashion,
resulting in partial gel collapsing, which
is recovered as the gel-spring-back
once liquid moiety-finishes evaporating
from the gel pores. This method does
come with few drawbacks related to
the volume of solvents.
References: Liu, W., Herrmann, A.-K., Bigall, N. C., Rodriguez, P., Wen, D., Oezaslan, M., … Eychmüller, A. (2015). Noble Metal Aerogels—Synthesis,
Characterization, and Application as Electrocatalysts. Accounts of Chemical Research, 48(2), 154–162. doi:10.1021/ar500237c
METHODOLOGY FUTURE DEVELOPMENT
The First step in the synthesis involve the
The problems were countered with great
homopolymerization of the furfuryl alcohol, in the presence
of the acid-catalyst. The reaction is carried out under effectiveness by the chemically modification to
controlled conditions to prevent the exothermic effect of the achieve the desired results, which were
reaction, because the resinification process of furfuryl explained in the methodology of this Research.
alcohol is highly exothermic and external fluids and reflux The Product was synthesized with highlighted
assembly is used to accomplish cooling. The polymerization crosslinking chemistry was observed as well,
process if carried out till a predetermined-viscosity end point resulting in 3D networking and excellent
if reached and the resulting polymerized liquid is copolymerization ability of the furfuryl alcohol
synthesized, with shelf-life of more than 6 months. A three with furfural that played the role of the
dimensional structural-framework. It is termed as cross link
curing/crosslinking agent,that added specific
curing of the furfuryl alcohol, under the acidic condition
through condensation process. The methyl alcohol groups, comprehensive strength to the resulting
present at the terminal position, condense with methylene synthesized material via subcritical evaporative
bridge of another chain to develop the three dimensional- drying.
network. The water is removed from the system under the
vacuum-conditions via distillation process so that the
reaction system is left with the 12% of the weight. SYNTHESIS SCHEME
RESULTS AND CONCLUSIONS
This project the Subcritical method
proved to be an efficient method for
Subcritical
aerogel synthesis by using the
evaporative drying techniques instead
of supercritical(CO2) drying. The
Furfuryl Alcohol problems were countered with great
effectiveness by the chemically
modification to achieve the desired
results, which were explained in the
methodology of this Research. The
Product was synthesized with
highlighted crosslinking chemistry was
observed as well, resulting in 3D
networking and excellent
copolymerization ability of the furfuryl
alcohol with furfural that played the role
of the curing/crosslinking agent,that
added specific comprehensive strength
to the resulting synthesized material
via subcritical evaporative drying.