Study of sol--gel processing for fabrication of hollow silica--aerogel spheres

Journal Article · Tue May 01 00:00:00 EDT 1990 · Journal of Vacuum Science and Technology, A (Vacuum, Surfaces and Films); (USA)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1116/1.576839· OSTI ID:6764725

Jang, K Y; Kim, K ^[1]

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1. Fusion Technology Laboratory, University of Illinois, Urbana, IL (USA) Upadhye, R.S. (Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory, Livermore, CA (USA))

Preliminary results were previously reported indicating that uniform, hollow silica--aerogel spheres of controlled size and thickness can be fabricated by controlled hydrolysis and condensation of tetraethylorthosilicate (TEOS). The method consists of first producing a stream of hollow drops of a mixture of TEOS, H{sub 2}O, ethanol, and a catalyst using a dual-nozzle system and then introducing the drops into a gelation chamber where the drops solidify into a rigid form while being levitated by a gelation gas mixture. A detailed further study designed to understand and control the kinetics of the sol--gel processing that is responsible for the hollow silica--aerogel sphere formation is described. Specifically, the optimal rheology and stoichiometry of the reactant solution, the make-up of the gelation/levitation gas mixture, and the characteristics of the resulting silica--aerogel spheres, such as the size, thickness, porosity, pore size, and density, are investigated.

• OSTI ID: 6764725
• Journal Information: Journal of Vacuum Science and Technology, A (Vacuum, Surfaces and Films); (USA), Vol. 8:3; ISSN 0734-2101
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

70 PLASMA PHYSICS AND FUSION TECHNOLOGY
SILICA
TARGETS
THERMONUCLEAR REACTIONS
FABRICATION
RHEOLOGY
STOICHIOMETRY
CHALCOGENIDES
MINERALS
NUCLEAR REACTIONS
NUCLEOSYNTHESIS
OXIDE MINERALS
OXIDES
OXYGEN COMPOUNDS
SILICON COMPOUNDS
SILICON OXIDES
SYNTHESIS
700209* - Fusion Power Plant Technology- Component Development & Materials Testing