Hostname: page-component-586b7cd67f-l7hp2 Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-11-26T15:58:33.067Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false
  • English
  • Français

Ultra-low density aerogel optical applications

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  31 January 2011

S.P. Hotaling
S.P. Hotaling
Affiliation:
Rome Laboratory, Griffiss AFB, Rome, New York 13440-5700
Get access

Abstract

Despite the extremely low density and the hence low weight of aerogel materials, the applicability of these materials to reflective applications has had little attention due to the high porosities exhibited by the materials. This high porosity yields an intrinsically rough but uniform surface topology for aerogel of density in the low hundreds of milligrams per cubic centimeter and a fractal surface geometry for lower density aerogel (densities of the order of tens of milligrams per cubic centimeter). This paper presents new results of aerogel materials used as ultra-light substrates for reflective coatings by way of surface machining, polishing, and planarization prior to metallization, and the optical characterization thereof.

Type
Articles
Information
Journal of Materials Research , Volume 8 , Issue 2 , February 1993 , pp. 352 - 355
Copyright
Copyright © Materials Research Society 1993

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)

References

REFERENCES

1Kistler, S.S., J. Phys. Chem. 36, 52 (1932).Google Scholar
2Hrubish, L. W. and Tillotson, T. M., LLNL private communication (1990).Google Scholar
3Bussjager, R. and Maurice, J. of the RADC Photonics Laboratory suggested the use of a Newport fiber microscope for the observation of surface quality during the polishing steps.Google Scholar
4Wolf, S. and Tauber, R. N., Silicon Processing for the VLSI ERA, Vol. 1, Process Technology (Lattice Press, 1986).Google Scholar
5Brinker, C. J. and Scherer, G. W., Sol-Gel Science (Academic Press, New York, 1990).Google Scholar
6Brinker, C. J., Proc. Sol Gel Thin Film Workshop, Sandia National Laboratory (1990).Google Scholar