Abstract: SEM, XPS, FTIR, XRD were employed to characterize silica aerogel powder, the explosion characteristic parameters were measured by 20 L spherical explosion apparatus and 1.2 L Hartmann tube tester. The results indicated that silica aerogel dust has nano-scale crosslinked network structure. Si and O are main elements and exist in amorphous state with -CH3 and -OH groups on the surface. The lower explosion limit is 40～50 g/m3, the maximum explosion pressure is 0.70 MPa, the maximum explosion index is 7.84 MPa·m/s, the minimum ignition energy is 520 mJ, and the dust explosion risk level is St1.

Key words: Key words silica aerogel, dust explosion, SEM, XPS, XRD