Fabrication of Hollow Silica Aerogel Micospheres Using Droplet Generation Technique and Sol-Gel Process.

摘要

A system was designed to produce hollow silica aerogel microspheres by combining a droplet generation technique and a sol-gel process. In the system, a simultaneous passage of an alkoxide solution and a fill gas through a dual-nozzle system found a continuous stream of hollow drops in the fluid state. The spherical drops were then levitated in a basic atmosphere to convert them into a rigid state by an accelerated reaction of condensation. A supercritical drying was adopted to drive off any remaining organic solvent in order to form porous aerogel spheres. 14 refs., 6 figs. (ERA citation 13:057053)