Aerogel: Aerogel Nomenclature
Week #33: Miscellaneous Aerogel Notes (#01)
Preface! ✨
Hello everyone!
My intentions for writing these articles are:
- Explain technical information about aerogels in simple terms (to the public)
- Store information and habits for my future self and others (in <7 minutes)
Coolio? Sweet. Enjoy the series :-)
The Nitty-Gritty Aerogel ⚛️
Most of the information is definitions of words used in aerogel textbooks. I simplified the words from their advanced bullshit for public readers to understand.
Okay, let’s go.
Colloid - A suspension when the dispersion/spreading of particles is close to each other. Gravitational forces are ignored, and chemical interactions are caused by Van der Waal attraction & surface charge.
Suspension - An unevenly distributed (heterogenous) mixture in which the solid particles are spread throughout the liquid without dissolving in the liquid.
Sol - Colloidal suspension of solid particles in a liquid.
Emulsion - A suspension of liquid droplets in another liquid.
Precursors - Starting molecules/compounds in any gel
Condensation - Liberation of a small molecule from a large molecule/compound. A molecule that could be liberated is H2O or an alcohol group.
Oligomer - An intermediate-size molecule consisting of one or more groups of atoms chained together. These bonds create a repeating pattern.
Functionality - The number of bonds a molecule can form (with another molecule.)
Aqueous Solutions - The only liquid present in the wet gel is water.
Non-Aqueous Solutions - The liquid contains more than just water molecules (or in addition to water)
Monospherical - Sphere-shaped particles consist of the same size.
Monolithic - The smallest dimension of the gel is bigger than a few millimeters.
Syneresis - Spontaneous shrinkage of the wet gel. The attraction between particles (bond formation) induces/creates a contraction of the wet-gel structure. This results in an expulsion/release of liquid from the pores (holes) of the wet gel.
Catalyst - A chemical (substance) that accelerates a reaction without the chemical itself mixing with the original chemical reaction.
Ambient - The substance (in this case, gel) has related characteristics to its environment. Some examples include similar temperatures, pressures, air quality, etc.
Meniscus - The curved upper surface of a liquid in a lab tube.
Immiscible - Two liquids do not distribute evenly (homogeneously) when mixed. (Think of water and oil.)
Closing Thoughts 💭
We experienced some backlash and delays in bringing the technology to life.
But the team is quick to iterate and possesses impulse control.
We will NOT be denied by people who hold the keys to funding impact.
Fund the impact.
The best revenge is by making it.
The Nomenclature Of Aerogel Research Is Complete. ✔️
© 2023 by Carlos Manuel Jarquín Sánchez. All Rights Reserved.
