Compression molding of aerogel microspheres

Patent · Tue Mar 24 04:00:00 EST 1998

OSTI ID:871435

Pekala, Richard W ^[1]; Hrubesh, Lawrence W ^[2]

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1. Pleasant Hill, CA
2. Pleasanton, CA

An aerogel composite material produced by compression molding of aerogel microspheres (powders) mixed together with a small percentage of polymer binder to form monolithic shapes in a cost-effective manner. The aerogel composites are formed by mixing aerogel microspheres with a polymer binder, placing the mixture in a mold and heating under pressure, which results in a composite with a density of 50-800 kg/m.sup.3 (0.05-0.80 g/cc). The thermal conductivity of the thus formed aerogel composite is below that of air, but higher than the thermal conductivity of monolithic aerogels. The resulting aerogel composites are attractive for applications such as thermal insulation since fabrication thereof does not require large and expensive processing equipment. In addition to thermal insulation, the aerogel composites may be utilized for filtration, ICF target, double layer capacitors, and capacitive deionization.

• Research Organization: Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory (LLNL), Livermore, CA
• DOE Contract Number: W-7405-ENG-48
• Assignee: Regents of University of California (Oakland, CA)
• Patent Number(s): US 5731360
• Application Number: 08/610621
• OSTI ID: 871435
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

/521/
05-0
50-800
80
addition
aerogel
aerogel composite
aerogel composites
aerogel microspheres
aerogels
air
applications
attractive
below
binder
capacitive
capacitive deionization
capacitors
cc
composite
composite mat
composite material
composites
compression
compression mold
compression molding
conductivity
cost-effective
cost-effective manner
deionization
density
double
double layer
equipment
expensive
fabrication
filtration
form
formed
formed aerogel
heating
icf
icf target
insulation
kg
layer
layer capacitor
layer capacitors
manner
material
material produced
microspheres
mixed
mixing
mixture
mold
molding
monolithic
monolithic aerogel
percentage
placing
polymer
polymer binder
powders
pressure
processing
processing equipment
produced
require
resulting
results
shapes
target
thermal
thermal conductivity
thermal insulation
utilized