Patent ID: 6380105
Filing Date: 2002-04-30
Classification: B01J,H01L

Abstract:
A non-supercritical method of forming a nanoporous aerogel, said method comprising the steps of:providing an aerogel precursor sol, said sol comprising an at least partially hydrolyzed metal alkoxide dispersed in a first solvent and a second solvent, evaporating substantially all of said second solvent while preventing substantial evaporation of said first solvent, and allowing the sol to create a gel, wherein the gel comprises a porous solid and a pore fluid; continuing to prevent substantial evaporation of said first solvent from said sol until a drying step, wherein said drying step comprises forming a dry aerogel by removing the pore fluid in a non-supercritical drying atmosphere without substantial collapse of the porous solid; whereby the skeletal density of the dry aerogel is determined approximately by the volume ratio of said metal alkoxide to said first solvent in said aerogel precursor sol.