RAPID AEROGEL PRODUCTION PROCESS

摘要

Method of more rapidly producing aerogel products by means of a rapid solven t exchange of solvent inside wet gels with supercritical CO2 by injecting supercritical, rather than liquid, CO2 into an extractor that has been pre- heated and pre-pressurized to substantially supercritical conditions or abov e. Preferably, pressure pulses are applied to the supercritical CO2 to enhance the solvent exchange. The rapid solvent exchange process is followed by depressurization, optionally with a gas exchange. Preferably, pressure waves are used to speed up the depressurization. The process greatly reduces the time for forming aerogel products. >