Study of sol--gel processing for fabrication of hollow silica--aerogel spheres
- 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), Journal Name: Journal of Vacuum Science and Technology, A (Vacuum, Surfaces and Films); (USA) Vol. 8:3; ISSN JVTAD; ISSN 0734-2101
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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CHALCOGENIDES
FABRICATION
MINERALS
NUCLEAR REACTIONS
NUCLEOSYNTHESIS
OXIDE MINERALS
OXIDES
OXYGEN COMPOUNDS
RHEOLOGY
SILICA
SILICON COMPOUNDS
SILICON OXIDES
STOICHIOMETRY
SYNTHESIS
TARGETS
THERMONUCLEAR REACTIONS