Process for forming transparent aerogel insulating arrays
Abstract
An improved supercritical drying process for forming transparent silica aerogel arrays is described. The process is of the type utilizing the steps of hydrolyzing and condensing aloxides to form alcogels. A subsequent step removes the alcohol to form aerogels. The improvement includes the additional step, after alcogels are formed, of substituting a solvent, such as CO.sub.2, for the alcohol in the alcogels, the solvent having a critical temperature less than the critical temperature of the alcohol. The resulting gels are dried at a supercritical temperature for the selected solvent, such as CO.sub.2, to thereby provide a transparent aerogel array within a substantially reduced (days-to-hours) time period. The supercritical drying occurs at about 40.degree. C. instead of at about 270.degree. C. The improved process provides increased yields of large scale, structurally sound arrays. The transparent aerogel array, formed in sheets or slabs, as made in accordance with the improved process, can replace the air gap within a double glazed window, for example, to provide a substantial reduction in heat transfer. The thus formed transparent aerogel arrays may also be utilized, for example, in windows of refrigerators and ovens, or in the walls and doors thereof or as the active material inmore »
- Inventors:
-
- Milpitas, CA
- Oakland, CA
- Issue Date:
- Research Org.:
- Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory (LBNL), Berkeley, CA (United States)
- OSTI Identifier:
- 865977
- Patent Number(s):
- 4610863
- Assignee:
- United States of America as represented by United States (Washington, DC)
- Patent Classifications (CPCs):
-
B - PERFORMING OPERATIONS B01 - PHYSICAL OR CHEMICAL PROCESSES OR APPARATUS IN GENERAL B01J - CHEMICAL OR PHYSICAL PROCESSES, e.g. CATALYSIS OR COLLOID CHEMISTRY
C - CHEMISTRY C01 - INORGANIC CHEMISTRY C01B - NON-METALLIC ELEMENTS
- DOE Contract Number:
- AC03-76SF00098
- Resource Type:
- Patent
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
- Subject:
- process; forming; transparent; aerogel; insulating; arrays; improved; supercritical; drying; silica; described; type; utilizing; steps; hydrolyzing; condensing; aloxides; form; alcogels; subsequent; step; removes; alcohol; aerogels; improvement; additional; formed; substituting; solvent; critical; temperature; resulting; gels; dried; selected; provide; array; substantially; reduced; days-to-hours; time; period; occurs; 40; degree; 270; provides; increased; yields; scale; structurally; sound; sheets; slabs; accordance; replace; air; gap; double; glazed; window; example; substantial; reduction; heat; transfer; utilized; windows; refrigerators; ovens; walls; doors; active; material; detectors; analyzing; energy; elementry; particles; cosmic; rays; provides increased; process provides; substantially reduced; air gap; improved process; critical temperature; active material; heat transfer; time period; substantially reduce; substantial reduction; resulting gels; structurally sound; transparent aerogel; increased yields; supercritical drying; drying process; supercritical temperature; silica aerogel; subsequent step; cosmic rays; type utilizing; increased yield; transparent silica; forming transparent; additional step; aerogel insulating; double glazed; /423/502/
Citation Formats
Tewari, Param H, and Hunt, Arlon J. Process for forming transparent aerogel insulating arrays. United States: N. p., 1986.
Web.
Tewari, Param H, & Hunt, Arlon J. Process for forming transparent aerogel insulating arrays. United States.
Tewari, Param H, and Hunt, Arlon J. Wed .
"Process for forming transparent aerogel insulating arrays". United States. https://www.osti.gov/servlets/purl/865977.
@article{osti_865977,
title = {Process for forming transparent aerogel insulating arrays},
author = {Tewari, Param H and Hunt, Arlon J},
abstractNote = {An improved supercritical drying process for forming transparent silica aerogel arrays is described. The process is of the type utilizing the steps of hydrolyzing and condensing aloxides to form alcogels. A subsequent step removes the alcohol to form aerogels. The improvement includes the additional step, after alcogels are formed, of substituting a solvent, such as CO.sub.2, for the alcohol in the alcogels, the solvent having a critical temperature less than the critical temperature of the alcohol. The resulting gels are dried at a supercritical temperature for the selected solvent, such as CO.sub.2, to thereby provide a transparent aerogel array within a substantially reduced (days-to-hours) time period. The supercritical drying occurs at about 40.degree. C. instead of at about 270.degree. C. The improved process provides increased yields of large scale, structurally sound arrays. The transparent aerogel array, formed in sheets or slabs, as made in accordance with the improved process, can replace the air gap within a double glazed window, for example, to provide a substantial reduction in heat transfer. The thus formed transparent aerogel arrays may also be utilized, for example, in windows of refrigerators and ovens, or in the walls and doors thereof or as the active material in detectors for analyzing high energy elementry particles or cosmic rays.},
doi = {},
journal = {},
number = ,
volume = ,
place = {United States},
year = {1986},
month = {1}
}