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Precursor Chemistry and the Structure of Silica Aerogels

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Abstract

Small-angle X-ray scattering is used to characterize the structure of aerogels prepared by two-stage polymerization processes. Second-stage catalysis controls the resistance to collapse during drying with the base-catalyzed system being most resistant. Base catalysis in the second stage leads to compaction of the polymer network on short length scales. This short-scale rigidity makes the networks sufficiently robust to withstand the surface tension forces present during solvent extraction and re-exposure to the atmosphere. Aging in solution also improves aerogel quality. In this case, a dissolution-repolymerization process leads to short length scale circuits and improved rigidity.

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Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Sandia National Laboratories, 87185-5800, Albuquerque, NM, USA

    D. W. Schaefer, C. J. Brinker & J. P. Wilcoxon

  2. Chemistry Department, State University of New York, 11794-3400, Stony Brook, NY, USA

    D.-Q. Wu & B. Chu

  3. Chemistry Dept., State University of New York, Chemistry Dept., 11794-3400, Buffalo, NY, USA

    J. C. Phillips

  4. SUNY X3 Beamline, National Synchrotron Light Source (NSLS), Brookhaven National Laboratory, 11973, Upton, NY, USA

    J. C. Phillips

  5. U.S. Department of Energy under Contract No. DE-FG-02-87ER45237AO01, SUNY Beamline under Contract No. DE-FG-02-86ER45231A001 and National Synchrotron Light Source under Contract No. DE-ACO2-76CH00016., 11973, Upton, NY, USA

    D.-Q. Wu, J. C. Phillips & B. Chu

Authors
  1. D. W. Schaefer
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  2. C. J. Brinker
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  3. J. P. Wilcoxon
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  4. D.-Q. Wu
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  5. J. C. Phillips
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  6. B. Chu
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Additional information

This work performed at Sandia National Laboratories, Albuquerque, NM and supported by the U.S. Department of Energy under Contract No. DE-AC-04-76DP00789 for the Office of Basic Energy Sciences, Division of Materials Science.

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Schaefer, D.W., Brinker, C.J., Wilcoxon, J.P. et al. Precursor Chemistry and the Structure of Silica Aerogels. MRS Online Proceedings Library 121, 691–696 (1988). https://doi.org/10.1557/PROC-121-691

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1557/PROC-121-691

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