Rapid aerogel production process comprising the application of pressure pulses to hasten the exchange of fluids within the gel

摘要

Method of more rapidly producing aerogel products by means of a rapid solvent 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 above. 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.