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Title: Resorcinol-formaldehyde and carbon aerogel microspheres

Abstract

Aerogels are a unique class of materials possessing an open-cell structure with ultrafine cells/pores (<100nm), high surface area (400--1100 m{sup 2}/g), and a solid matrix composed of interconnected particles, fibers, or platelets with characteristic dimensions of 10nm. Although monolithic aerogels are ideal candidates for many applications (e.g. transparent window insulation), current processing methods have limited their introduction into the commercial marketplace. Our research focuses on the formation of resorcinol-formaldehyde (RF) aerogel microspheres which offer an attractive alternative to monolith production. An inverse emulsion polymerization is used to produce these spherical gel particles which undergo solvent exchange followed by supercritical drying with carbon dioxide. This process yields aerogel microspheres (10--80{mu} diameter) which can be used as loosely packed powders, compression molded into near-net shapes using a polymer binder, or used as additives in conventional foaming operations to produce new aerogel composites with superior thermal properties. The emulsification procedure, thermal characterization, mechanical properties, and potential applications of RF aerogel microspheres will be discussed.

Authors:
; ;  [1]; ; ;  [2]
  1. Lawrence Livermore National Lab., CA (United States)
  2. Wuerzburg Univ. (Germany). Physikalisches Inst.
Publication Date:
Research Org.:
Lawrence Livermore National Lab. (LLNL), Livermore, CA (United States)
Sponsoring Org.:
USDOE, Washington, DC (United States)
OSTI Identifier:
231319
Report Number(s):
UCRL-JC-123478; CONF-960401-9
ON: DE96009705
DOE Contract Number:  
W-7405-ENG-48
Resource Type:
Conference
Resource Relation:
Conference: Spring meeting of the Materials Research Society (MRS), San Francisco, CA (United States), 8-12 Apr 1996; Other Information: PBD: Apr 1996
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English
Subject:
36 MATERIALS SCIENCE; RESORCINOL; EMULSIFICATION; FORMALDEHYDE; GELS; CARBON; POROUS MATERIALS; SPHERES; MECHANICAL PROPERTIES; THERMAL ANALYSIS

Citation Formats

Alviso, C T, Pekela, R W, Gross, J, Lu, X, Caps, R, and Fricke, J. Resorcinol-formaldehyde and carbon aerogel microspheres. United States: N. p., 1996. Web.
Alviso, C T, Pekela, R W, Gross, J, Lu, X, Caps, R, & Fricke, J. Resorcinol-formaldehyde and carbon aerogel microspheres. United States.
Alviso, C T, Pekela, R W, Gross, J, Lu, X, Caps, R, and Fricke, J. 1996. "Resorcinol-formaldehyde and carbon aerogel microspheres". United States. https://www.osti.gov/servlets/purl/231319.
@article{osti_231319,
title = {Resorcinol-formaldehyde and carbon aerogel microspheres},
author = {Alviso, C T and Pekela, R W and Gross, J and Lu, X and Caps, R and Fricke, J},
abstractNote = {Aerogels are a unique class of materials possessing an open-cell structure with ultrafine cells/pores (<100nm), high surface area (400--1100 m{sup 2}/g), and a solid matrix composed of interconnected particles, fibers, or platelets with characteristic dimensions of 10nm. Although monolithic aerogels are ideal candidates for many applications (e.g. transparent window insulation), current processing methods have limited their introduction into the commercial marketplace. Our research focuses on the formation of resorcinol-formaldehyde (RF) aerogel microspheres which offer an attractive alternative to monolith production. An inverse emulsion polymerization is used to produce these spherical gel particles which undergo solvent exchange followed by supercritical drying with carbon dioxide. This process yields aerogel microspheres (10--80{mu} diameter) which can be used as loosely packed powders, compression molded into near-net shapes using a polymer binder, or used as additives in conventional foaming operations to produce new aerogel composites with superior thermal properties. The emulsification procedure, thermal characterization, mechanical properties, and potential applications of RF aerogel microspheres will be discussed.},
doi = {},
url = {https://www.osti.gov/biblio/231319}, journal = {},
number = ,
volume = ,
place = {United States},
year = {Mon Apr 01 00:00:00 EST 1996},
month = {Mon Apr 01 00:00:00 EST 1996}
}

Conference:
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