Hydrophobic silica wet gel and aerogel

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

• preparing a first solution by mixing methyl silicate 51 and methanol;
• preparing a second solution by mixing methanol, 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;
• aging the silica wet gel for a period of time;
• preparing a third solution by mixing methyltrimethoxysilane and methanol;
• adding the third solution to the silica wet gel;
• allowing the third solution to react with the silica wet gel to form hydrophobic silica wet gel;
• and
• drying the hydrophobic silica wet gel to form hydrophobic silica aerogel;
• wherein the methyl silicate 51 has a total weight percent of greater than or equal to 1.8% and less than or equal to 4.8% and the methyltrimethoxysilane has a total weight percent of greater than or equal to 0.39% and less than or equal to 0.8%, wherein total weight percent represents a total weight percent of a component in the first, second and third solutions.