Rapid aging technique for aerogel thin films
US5753305A · kind A · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Nov 14, 1996 |
| Grant date | May 19, 1998 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Nov 14, 2016 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC Y)Emerging Cross-Sectional Technologies
- CPC primaryY10S438/909
- WIPO fieldSemiconductors
- WIPO sectorElectrical engineering
Abstract
This invention pertains generally to aging methods suited to aerogel thin film fabrication, and particularly to techniques for improving gel strength and/or aerogel dielectric constant by a rapid aging technique, which avoid damage or premature drying of wet gel thin films during aging. A substrate having a wet gel thin film deposited thereon is contacted with a saturated water vapor atmosphere, preferably at an elevated pressure and a temperature greater than 100.degree. C. The method may comprise a vapor-phase exchange step to remove low boiling point pore liquids such as ethanol prior to or during aging. The method may also comprise a vapor-phase exchange step to replace water in the wet gel with another pore liquid such as acetone to stop the aging process and prepare the wet gel for drying. A vapor-phase aging catalyst (e.g. ammonia) may also be used to enhance the aging process. The present invention allows aging of wet gel thin films to be completed in a few minutes instead of the days generally required for conventional bulk gel aging.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.