%0 Journal Article
%A Param H Tewari
%A Arlon J Hunt
%A Kevin D Lofftus
%B Materials Letters
%D 1985
%G eng
%N 9-10
%P 363-367
%R 10.1016/0167-577X(85)90077-1
%T Ambient-temperature supercritical drying of transparent silica aerogels
%V 3
%8 07/1985
%X <p>A novel technique to supercritically dry alcogels to transparent silica aerogels at near ambient temperature is described. This supercritical drying occurs at ⩽ 40°C instead of at ≥ 270°C, by substituting liquid CO<sub>2</sub> for the alcohol in the alcogel. The time required for drying is reduced from 2–3 days to 8–10 h. Light scattering, optical and micro-structural properties of aerogels produced by this process and by high-temperature supercritical drying are compared and shown to be similar.</p>