Abstract
Aerogel materials manufactured from metal oxides have been used as components in numerous high-energy density physics targets. These aerogels have been identified to be used as a future target material in the AWE fielded campaigns at the US National Ignition Facility. A wide variety of metal oxide aerogels are required for future campaigns and therefore a versatile manufacturing route is sought; as such, an epoxide-assisted sol–gel route was investigated. Under the European Union Registration, Evaluation, Authorization and Restriction of Chemicals legislation, the most commonly used epoxide, propylene oxide, is recognized as a substance of very high concern (SVHC). This work sought to investigate suitable alternative epoxides for use in target manufacture. The outcome was the identification of synthesis routes for stable metal oxide aerogel monoliths using epoxides not subject to the above restrictions.
Highlights
Aerogel materials have found many potential applications due to their very specific properties[1]: thermal barriers, catalytic surfaces, lightweight optics, range finders, speakers, energy absorbers and capacitors
We present an Fe(III) aerogel synthesis route using epoxides other than propylene oxide (PO) which are not listed in the substance of very high concern (SVHC) candidate list
This work shows that viable alternatives to PO can be used to create monolithic Fe(III)-based aerogels via an epoxideassisted gelation route, and the identified epoxides do not class as SVHC chemicals under REACH legislation
Summary
Aerogel materials have found many potential applications due to their very specific properties[1]: thermal barriers, catalytic surfaces, lightweight optics, range finders, speakers, energy absorbers and capacitors. Aerogel materials have been used as a component in many designs for high-energy density (HED) physics targets. Aerogels offer the ability to have low density, with the potential for uniform porosity, optically thick components in HED experiments, without the problem of relatively large pore sizes as found in pure metal foams. Metal oxide aerogels have been more challenging to synthesize and are less well understood than the silica type[2], especially when these aerogels have been formed via catalyzed hydrolysis and condensation reaction of metal alkoxide precursors[3, 4]. The lack of suitable metal alkoxides and their associated handling issues has restricted the production of metal oxide aerogels.
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a callDisclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.
