Aerogels are the lowest-density solid materials in the world, 90% of them is air. They have a sparse, cross-linked structure, yet they have high load-bearing capacity. They withstand heat, and can store large amounts of fluid. The Department of Inorganic and Analytical Chemistry of the Faculty of Science and Technology has been involved in the research of aerogels since 2005.
- Aerogels can be used in a wide variety of areas. They are used for carrying medicine and for thermal insulation, among other things. At UD we built a high-tech facility, where we can experiment with and manufacture aerogels for technological purposes – explained István Fábián, professor of the Department of Inorganic and Analytical Chemistry.
The research team has worked together with the German air and space centre (DLR) since 2019. The team participates in an international project at the request of DLR. The winning application is an R&D&I project entitled "EU HORIZON" ("HORIZON-CL4-2022-SPACE-01-81 — Space technologies for European non-dependence and competitiveness").
- Our job is to develop and manufacture polymer aerogels for the heat insulation of space objects. The James Webb space telescope, launched in December, is protected from the heat of the Sun by a heat shield manufactured by NASA. In the framework of the project, one of our goals is to develop super-insulating aerogels for similar purposes. 90 percent of the aerogels is air, the rest is extremely hard and durable plastic. A heat shield is made up of thin sheets of this material, coated and manufactured into a layered structure. Aerogels can be used for the thermal insulation of containers used for storing extremely low-temperature material as well. The strategic purpose of the project is to make the EU independent of the US and China by making insulating material in the EU – explained József Kalmár, head of the project, associate professor of the Department of Inorganic and Analytical Chemistry.
A consortium comprised of nine members implements the project, which is directed by DLR, the biggest space research institution in the EU, and involves major Western-European research institutes and industry partners. The key industry members of the consortium are Arian Group and Thales Alenia Space. They are the biggest space object (rockets, satellites and modules) manufacturing companies in the EU.
- This is a highly prestigious project, which is connected to space research and involves real engineering challenges, and our team at UD is the only university partner and the only partner from East Europe – pointed out Associate Professor Kalmár.
A total of 60 researchers will be involved in the project, including 4 from UD, mainly chemists with doctoral degrees and chemical engineers. The 3-year programme starts in November, with a total budget of EUR 3 million. If the project is successful, cooperation may be continued in the areas of research and manufacturing.
Press Centre - CzA
