Flexible aerogel composite for mechanical stability and process of fabrication

Patent · Sat Jan 01 00:00:00 EST 2000

OSTI ID:873088

Coronado, Paul R ^[1]; Poco, John F ^[1]

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1. Livermore, CA

A flexible aerogel and process of fabrication. An aerogel solution is mixed with fibers in a mold and allowed to gel. The gel is then processed by supercritical extraction, or by air drying, to produce a flexible aerogel formed to the shape of the mold. The flexible aerogel has excellent thermal and acoustic properties, and can be utilized in numerous applications, such as for energy absorption, insulation (temperature and acoustic), to meet the contours of aircraft shapes, and where space is limited since an inch of aerogel is a 4-5 times better insulator than an inch of fiberglass. The flexible aerogel may be of an inorganic (silica) type or an organic (carbon) type, but containing fibers, such as glass or carbon fibers.

• Research Organization: Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory (LLNL), Livermore, CA (United States)
• DOE Contract Number: W-7405-ENG-48
• Assignee: Regents of University of California (Oakland, CA)
• Patent Number(s): US 6087407
• OSTI ID: 873088
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

flexible
aerogel
composite
mechanical
stability
process
fabrication
solution
mixed
fibers
mold
allowed
processed
supercritical
extraction
air
drying
produce
formed
shape
excellent
thermal
acoustic
properties
utilized
numerous
applications
energy
absorption
insulation
temperature
meet
contours
aircraft
shapes
space
limited
inch
4-5
times
insulator
fiberglass
inorganic
silica
type
organic
carbon
containing
glass
acoustic properties
energy absorption
supercritical extraction
carbon fibers
carbon fiber
mechanical stability
aerogel composite
flexible aerogel
air drying
excellent thermal
aerogel solution
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