Process for forming transparent aerogel insulating arrays

Patent · Tue Sep 09 00:00:00 EDT 1986

OSTI ID:5189384

Tewari, P H; Hunt, A J

This patent describes a drying process for forming transparent aerogel insulating arrays of the type utilizing the steps of hydrolyzing and condensing alkoxides to form alcogels, and subsequently removing the alcohol therefrom to form aerogels, the improvement comprising the additional step, after alcogels are formed, of substituting a solvent having a critical temperature less than the critical temperature of the alcohol for the alcohol in the alcogels, and drying the resulting gels at a supercritical temperature for the solvent, to thereby provide a transparent aerogel array within a substantially reduced drying time period.

• Assignee: Dept. of Energy, Washington, DC
• Patent Number(s): US 4610863
• OSTI ID: 5189384
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

37 INORGANIC, ORGANIC, PHYSICAL, AND ANALYTICAL CHEMISTRY
400201* -- Chemical & Physicochemical Properties
ALCOHOLS
ALKOXIDES
CHEMICAL PREPARATION
CHEMICAL REACTIONS
COLLOIDS
CRITICAL TEMPERATURE
DECOMPOSITION
DISPERSIONS
DRYING
GELS
HYDROLYSIS
HYDROXY COMPOUNDS
LYSIS
OPACITY
OPTICAL PROPERTIES
ORGANIC COMPOUNDS
PHYSICAL PROPERTIES
REMOVAL
SOLVENTS
SOLVOLYSIS
SYNTHESIS
THERMAL INSULATION
THERMODYNAMIC PROPERTIES
TIME DEPENDENCE
TRANSITION TEMPERATURE