Hydrophobic silica wet gel and aerogel

A method of making a hydrophobic silica aerogel, comprising the steps of:

• preparing a first solution by mixing tetramethyl orthosilicate and a first solvent;
• preparing a second solution by mixing a second solvent, ammonium hydroxide and water;
• mixing the first solution and the second solution together to form a mixed solution;
• allowing components in the mixed solution to react to form silica wet gel;
• preparing a third solution by mixing ammonium hydroxide and a third solvent;
• preparing a fourth solution by mixing methyltrimethoxysilane and diluent;
• preparing a solvent exchange solution by mixing the third solution, the fourth solution and an additional solvent;
• subjecting the silica wet gel to the solvent exchange solution to form a hydrophobic silica wet gel;
• and
• drying the hydrophobic silica wet gel to form hydrophobic silica aerogel;
• wherein the tetramethyl orthosilicate has a total weight percent of greater than or equal to 2.3% and less than or equal to 5.5% and the methyltrimethoxysilane has a total weight percent of greater than or equal to 0.5% and less than or equal to 0.8%, wherein total weight percent represents a total weight percent of a component in the first, second, third and fourth solutions.