Production of hollow aerogel microspheres
First Claim
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1. A process for preparing hollow aerogel microspheres, comprising the steps of:
- reacting metal alkoxide with water and base catalyst in alcohol solvent until a viscous alcogel is attained;
forming a drop of viscous alcogel;
injecting inert gas and base catalyst into the drop, at the time of drop formation, to form a hollow alcogel microsphere;
blowing the hollow alcogel microsphere free of the viscous alcogel to fall into an atmosphere of inert gas and base catalyst;
capturing said hollow alcogel microsphere on foam; and
subjecting said hollow alcogel microsphere to supercritical drying to form a hollow aerogel microsphere of 800-1200 μ
m diameter with a wall thickness of 100-300 μ
m and a wall density of 0.03 to 0.3 g/cm3.
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Abstract
A method is described for making hollow aerogel microspheres of 800-1200 μ diameter and 100-300 μ wall thickness by forming hollow alcogel microspheres during the sol/gel process in a catalytic atmosphere and capturing them on a foam surface containing catalyst. Supercritical drying of the formed hollow alcogel microspheres yields hollow aerogel microspheres which are suitable for ICF targets.
48 Citations
16 Claims
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1. A process for preparing hollow aerogel microspheres, comprising the steps of:
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reacting metal alkoxide with water and base catalyst in alcohol solvent until a viscous alcogel is attained; forming a drop of viscous alcogel; injecting inert gas and base catalyst into the drop, at the time of drop formation, to form a hollow alcogel microsphere; blowing the hollow alcogel microsphere free of the viscous alcogel to fall into an atmosphere of inert gas and base catalyst; capturing said hollow alcogel microsphere on foam; and subjecting said hollow alcogel microsphere to supercritical drying to form a hollow aerogel microsphere of 800-1200 μ
m diameter with a wall thickness of 100-300 μ
m and a wall density of 0.03 to 0.3 g/cm3. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8)
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9. A hollow aerogel microsphere prepared by the process comprising:
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reacting metal alkoxide with water and base catalyst in alcohol solvent until a viscous alcogel is attained; forming a drop of viscous alcogel; injecting inert gas and base catalyst into the drop, at the time of drop formation, to form a hollow alcogel microsphere; blowing the hollow alcogel microsphere free of the viscous alcogel to fall into an atmosphere of inert gas and base catalyst; capturing said hollow alcogel microsphere on foam; and subjecting said hollow alcogel microsphere to supercritical drying to form a hollow aerogel microsphere of 800-1200 μ
diameter with a wall thickness of 100-300 μ and
a wall density of 0.03 g/cm3 to 0.3 g/cm3. - View Dependent Claims (10, 11, 12, 13, 14)
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15. A hollow aerogel microsphere formed from a metal alkoxide having a diameter of 800-1200 μ
- and a wall thickness of 100-300 μ and
a wall density of 0.03 g/cm3 to 0.3 g/cm3. - View Dependent Claims (16)
- and a wall thickness of 100-300 μ and
Specification