Characterization of Mechanical Property Change in Polymer Aerogels Depending on the Ligand Structure of Acrylate Monomer

In an effort to overcome the weakness of aerogel, polymer aerogels have been prepared by copolymerizing the different types of monomers through sol-gel process. Polymerizing the successive phase of a high internal phase emulsion, which has interconnected porous structure, porous polymer aerogel can be manufactured. In this paper, we use the styrene/divinylbenzene chain as a basic monomer structure, and additionally use 2-ethylhexyl methacrylate (2-EHMA) or 2-ethylhexyl acrylate (2-EHA) as monomers for distinguishing the visible mechanical properties of synthesized polymer aerogel. We can observe the different tendency of polymer aerogels by kinds of monomer or ratio. Flexibility and microstructure can be changed by the types of monomer. EHA polymer aerogel shows high flexibility and thin microstructure, and EHMA polymer aerogel shows high hardness and thick microstructure. EHA/EHMA polymer aerogel shows the intermediate nature between them. By utilizing the mechanical properties of three types of polymer aerogels to adequate situation or environment, polymer aerogels could be used as drug agent, ion exchange resin, oil filter and insulator, and so on.