Abstract
The addition of ferroelectric microparticles embedded in a nanostructured silica aerogel modifies the dry gel microstructure in a measurable way. The pore size distribution changes as well as the specific surface area. This indicates a possible positive effect of particles on the gelation characteristics. These modifications were observed in solutions gelling during a sounding rocket experiment in which approximately three minutes microgravity provided sufficient time for a convection and sedimentation free gelation to occur. The paper describes the synthesis procedures and the microstructures obtained for the gels under microgravity conditions.
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Acknowledgements
2005 The authors appreciate first the help of the MAPHEUS sounding rocket team at DLR, especially Dipl.-Ing. H.E. Richter, who designed the facility to our requirements and had ingenious ideas for realizations. We highly appreciate the help of the team around Prof. Irina Smirnova from the Technical University of Hamburg, Institut für Thermische Verfahrenstechnik, providing the facilities to supercritically dry the samples.
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Ratke, L., Milow, B., Lisinski, S. et al. On an Effect of Fine Ceramic Particles on the Structure of Aerogels. Microgravity Sci. Technol. 26, 103–110 (2014). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12217-014-9380-2
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12217-014-9380-2