Preparation and characterization of RF aerogel on UV irradiation method

Abstract

The UV irradiation method provides us a new way of preparing resorcinol–formaldehyde (RF) aerogel. In this paper, water soluble, neutral photo-initiator 659 was used to synthesize RF aerogel by using free radical UV initiator. Incorporation of the UV initiators during the sol–gel stage usually decreases the gel-time. On changing the performed time and initiators quantities in synthesizing RF aerogel, The results will be discussed that gel-time of the RF aerogel definitely depends on the polymerization time and initiators quantities. The paper will also be discussed the RF aerogel developed for UV irradiation method and Sol–gel method by IR spectrum, Scanning electron microscopy, N2 adsorption/desorption to show that light initiator does not play any role in the formation of the aerogel skeleton; The RF aerogel using UV irradiation method still maintain a high pore structure, shorter gel-time and the three-dimensional size block.