@article{fdi:010053516,
  title = {{M}echanical behaviour of nano composite aerogels},
  author = {{W}oignier, {T}hierry and {P}rimera, {J}. and {A}laoui, {A}. {H}. and {C}alas-{E}tienne, {S}.},
  editor = {},
  language = {{ENG}},
  abstract = {{I}n order to improve the mechanical properties of silica aerogels, we propose the synthesis of nano composite aerogels. {S}ilica particles (20-100 nm) are added in the monomer solution, just before gelling and supercritical drying. {T}he silica particles addition increases the mechanical properties, but also affects the aggregation process, the aerogel structure and the pore sizes. {W}e discuss the different parameters which infer in the mechanical behaviour of silica aerogel such as: brittle behaviour, load bearing fraction of solid (pore volume), internal stresses (shrinkage), size and distribution of flaws, subcritical flaws propagation (chemical susceptibility). {W}ith silica particles addition, the mechanical properties rapidly increase, stiffening and strengthening the structure by a factor 4-8. {M}oreover, the mechanical strength distribution and the {W}eibull modulus characterizing the statistical nature of flaws size in brittle materials show a more homogeneous strength distribution. {T}he composite structure is made of two imbricate networks, the polymeric silica and the particles silica networks. {U}ltra {S}mall {A}ngle {X}-ray {S}cattering experiments show that besides the fractal network usually built up by the organosiloxane, the silica particles is forming another fractal structure at a higher scale. {T}he fractal structure could be related to the low {W}eibull parameter characteristic of a large flaws size distribution, pores being the critical flaws.},
  keywords = {{A}erogels ; {C}omposites ; {M}echanical properties ; {W}eibull modulus ; {F}ractal},
  booktitle = {},
  journal = {{J}ournal of {S}ol-{G}el {S}cience and {T}echnology},
  volume = {58},
  numero = {2},
  pages = {385--393},
  ISSN = {0928-0707},
  year = {2011},
  DOI = {10.1007/s10971-011-2404-0},
  URL = {https://www.documentation.ird.fr/hor/fdi:010053516},
}