A method to enhance porosity of micro-particles

Abstract

The nuclear track technique (NTT) is used to enhance the porosity of silica micro-particles. The enhanced porosity is a result of the formation of surface and interior pores or tracks in the silica by the action of external and internal fission fragments. The fission tracks produced at the surface and within the interior of the micro-particles are a result of coating the particles with trace quantitities of uranium, instead of having trace quantities of uranium incorporated within the silica matrix.