Development of low density silica aerogel as a capture medium for hyper-velocity particles
The authors successfully demonstrated the production of monolithic bricks of transparent silica aerogel (2.5 cm X 4.5 cm X 16 cm) with densities as low as 0.003 g/cm{sup 3}. They have characterized the microstructure of these new ultra-low density aerogels, and determined that they are polymeric-like having crosslinked chains of silica as compared with the colloidal-like silica formed with the conventional sol-gel approach. They have determined that the new ultra-low density aerogels have a higher compressive modulus than would be expected from an extrapolation from the higher density aerogels, and they are typically 15% more transmissive than conventional aerogels for the wavelength range from 350nm to 800nm. The authors have developed a new method of casting regular shaped aerogels using silicone rubber molds. This new method eliminates irregular surfaces, for example the raised surface caused by a meniscus, in prior methods. Flat, and nearly parallel sides are obtained with the new method. They delivered 26 tiles of aerogels for the EURECA experiment. The nominal density of each tile was about 0.06 g/cm{sup 3}. Twenty of the tiles had dimensions of approximately 1.8in X 1.8in X 0.2in, with flat sides. The remaining six tiles had dimensions of approximately 1.8in X 3.5in X 0.2in. All tiles were shipped from LLNL to the University of Washington before September 30, 1990. 5 figs.
- Research Organization:
- Lawrence Livermore National Lab., CA (USA)
- Sponsoring Organization:
- USDOE; USDOE, Washington, DC (USA)
- DOE Contract Number:
- W-7405-ENG-48
- OSTI ID:
- 6360856
- Report Number(s):
- UCRL-CR-105858-Summ.; ON: DE91008563
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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Related Subjects
37 INORGANIC
ORGANIC
PHYSICAL AND ANALYTICAL CHEMISTRY
GELS
CASTING
PHYSICAL PROPERTIES
SYNTHESIS
SILICA
CATALYSTS
DENSITY
EXTRACTION
GLASS
IMPURITIES
LIGHT TRANSMISSION
MATERIALS
MICROSTRUCTURE
OPTICAL PROPERTIES
POLYMERS
PROGRESS REPORT
SATELLITES
SHAPE
TECHNOLOGY ASSESSMENT
USES
CHALCOGENIDES
COLLOIDS
CRYSTAL STRUCTURE
DISPERSIONS
DOCUMENT TYPES
FABRICATION
MINERALS
OXIDE MINERALS
OXIDES
OXYGEN COMPOUNDS
SEPARATION PROCESSES
SILICON COMPOUNDS
SILICON OXIDES
360601* - Other Materials- Preparation & Manufacture
400201 - Chemical & Physicochemical Properties
360603 - Materials- Properties