• High Power Laser Science and Engineering
  • Vol. 5, Issue 4, 04000e24 (2017)
Alberto Valls Arrufat1, Magdalena Budziszewska1, Clement Lopez1, Aymeric Nguyen1, Jakub Sitek1, Paul Jones1, Chris Shaw1, Ian Hayes2, Gareth Cairns2, and Glenn Leighton1、†
Author Affiliations
  • 1Surface Engineering and Nanotechnology Institute, School of Aerospace, Transport and Manufacturing, Cranfield University, Milton Keynes, Bedfordshire, MK43 0AL, UK
  • 2Target Fabrication Group, AWE, Aldermaston, Reading, Berkshire, RG7 4PR, UK
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    DOI: 10.1017/hpl.2017.25 Cite this Article Set citation alerts
    Alberto Valls Arrufat, Magdalena Budziszewska, Clement Lopez, Aymeric Nguyen, Jakub Sitek, Paul Jones, Chris Shaw, Ian Hayes, Gareth Cairns, Glenn Leighton. REACH compliant epoxides used in the synthesis of Fe(III)-based aerogel monoliths for target fabrication[J]. High Power Laser Science and Engineering, 2017, 5(4): 04000e24 Copy Citation Text show less
    SEMs showing the microstructure of Fe(III)-based aerogels created using nitrate salts, ethanol and the epoxides (a) PO; (b) EB; (c) TO.
    Fig. 1. SEMs showing the microstructure of Fe(III)-based aerogels created using nitrate salts, ethanol and the epoxides (a) PO; (b) EB; (c) TO.
    Fe (III)-based aerogel synthesized using PO (a) monolith, (b) SEM showing the larger clusters are made up of nanoparticles in the 70–100 nm range.
    Fig. 2. Fe (III)-based aerogel synthesized using PO (a) monolith, (b) SEM showing the larger clusters are made up of nanoparticles in the 70–100 nm range.
    SEM microstructure of cyclohexene oxide aerogel, created using chloride salt and methanol.
    Fig. 3. SEM microstructure of cyclohexene oxide aerogel, created using chloride salt and methanol.
    SEM micrograph of an Fe (III)-based aerogel using iron(III) chloride hexahydrate and TO.
    Fig. 4. SEM micrograph of an Fe (III)-based aerogel using iron(III) chloride hexahydrate and TO.
    Fe(III)-based aerogel monolith using iron(III) chloride hexahydrate and TO.
    Fig. 5. Fe(III)-based aerogel monolith using iron(III) chloride hexahydrate and TO.
    Comparison between EB Fe(III)-based aerogels with different ratios of epoxide to 0.808 g of iron nitrate salt. (a) 2 and (b) 3 mL.
    Fig. 6. Comparison between EB Fe(III)-based aerogels with different ratios of epoxide to 0.808 g of iron nitrate salt. (a) 2 and (b) 3 mL.
    ReactantsQuantity
    Iron (III) chloride hexahydrate0.541 g
    Ethanol5 mL
    TO1.431 mL
    Water0.108 mL
    Table 1. Example formulation used for formation of Fe(III)-based aerogels.
    EpoxideAverageAverageAverage
    densitypore sizeparticle size
    [nm][nm]
    PO118N/A70
    EB9710957
    TO8617962
    Cyclohexane oxide*1014533
    Table 2. Average density, pore size and particle size for each epoxides used.
    EpoxideAverage gelation time
    [min]
    PO0.3
    EB3
    TO30
    Cyclohexene oxide900
    Table 3. Average Gelation times for epoxides used across the breath of salts used.
    Solvent ratio Epoxide/Salt solutionQuality of gel
    80/20Poor – Monoliths with severe fractures and falling apart into powder
    60/40Poor – Monoliths with severe fractures and falling apart into powder
    50/50Poor – Monoliths with severe fractures and falling apart into powder
    40/60Very good – Monoliths without fractures
    20/80Good – Monoliths with minor fractures
    0/100Poor — mainly powder with several shards of aerogel
    Table 4. Ratio of ethanol solvent used in epoxide/salt solution during EB synthesis of Fe(III)-based aerogel.
    Amount of epoxideGel qualityGelation time
    (mL)(min)
    1Poor – mainly powder with several shards of aerogel30
    2Poor – Monoliths with severe fractures and falling apart into powder5
    3Very good – Monoliths without fractures1
    Table 5. EB Fe (III)-based aerogels gelation time and gel quality comparison.
    Alberto Valls Arrufat, Magdalena Budziszewska, Clement Lopez, Aymeric Nguyen, Jakub Sitek, Paul Jones, Chris Shaw, Ian Hayes, Gareth Cairns, Glenn Leighton. REACH compliant epoxides used in the synthesis of Fe(III)-based aerogel monoliths for target fabrication[J]. High Power Laser Science and Engineering, 2017, 5(4): 04000e24
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