Aerosol gels
AssigneeKansas State University Research Foundation
InventorsChristopher Sorensen, Amitabha Chakrabarti, Rajan Dhaubhadel, Corey Gerving
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Abstract
An improved process for the production of ultralow density, high specific surface area gel products is provided which comprises providing, in an enclosed chamber, a mixture made up of small particles of material suspended in gas; the particles are then caused to aggregate in the chamber to form ramified fractal aggregate gels. The particles should have a radius (a) of up to about 50 nm and the aerosol should have a volume fraction (fv) of at least 10−4. In preferred practice, the mixture is created by a spark-induced explosion of a precursor material (e.g., a hydrocarbon) and oxygen within the chamber. New compositions of matter are disclosed having densities below 3.0 mg/cc.
Claims25
A method of forming a gel product comprising the steps of:
- providing in an enclosed chamber a mixture including a plurality of particles of material suspended in gas, said particles having an average radius (a) of up to about 50 nm and said mixture having a volume fraction (fv) of at least about 10−4;
- and causing said particles to aggregate within said chamber and form said gel product.
A composition of matter comprising a solid having a density of less than 3.0 mg/cc.
A composition of matter exhibiting an electrical conductivity which is proportional to the density of the material, squared.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.