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Ambient-temperature supercritical drying of transparent silica aerogels

Publication Type

Journal Article

Date Published

07/1985

Authors

Tewari, Param H., Arlon J. Hunt, Kevin D. Lofftus

DOI

10.1016/0167-577X(85)90077-1

Abstract

A novel technique to supercritically dry alcogels to transparent silica aerogels at near ambient temperature is described. This supercritical drying occurs at ⩽ 40°C instead of at ≥ 270°C, by substituting liquid CO₂ for the alcohol in the alcogel. The time required for drying is reduced from 2–3 days to 8–10 h. Light scattering, optical and micro-structural properties of aerogels produced by this process and by high-temperature supercritical drying are compared and shown to be similar.

Journal

Materials Letters

Volume

Year of Publication

1985

Issue

9-10

Notes

0167-577Xdoi: DOI: 10.1016/0167-577X(85)90077-1

Organization

Laser Technologies Group, Energy Storage and Distributed Resources Division