Aerogels with Glass-like Transparency for Cherenkov Detectors

Award Information

Agency: Department of Energy

Branch: N/A

Contract: N/A

Agency Tracking Number: 41796

Amount: $74,920.00

Phase: Phase I

Program: SBIR

Solicitation Topic Code: N/A

Solicitation Number: N/A

Timeline

Solicitation Year: N/A

Award Year: 1998

Award Start Date (Proposal Award Date): N/A

Award End Date (Contract End Date): N/A

Small Business Information

Aspen Systems, Inc.

184 Cedar Hill Street

Marlboroug, MA 01752

United States

DUNS: N/A

HUBZone Owned: No

Woman Owned: No

Socially and Economically Disadvantaged: No

Principal Investigator

Name: Dr. Redouane Begag
Title: Senior Chemist
Phone: (508) 481-5058

Business Contact

Name: Dr. Kang P. Lee
Title: President
Phone: (508) 481-5058

Research Institution

N/A

Abstract

50713-98-I
Aerogels with Glass-like Transparency for Cherenkov Detectors--Aspen Systems, Inc., 184 Cedar Hill Street, Marlborough, MA 01752-3017;
(508) 481-5058
Dr. Redouane Begag, Principal Investigator
Dr. Kang P. Lee, Business Official
DOE Grant No. DE-FG02-98ER82534
Amount: $74,926

The Cherenkov detector community has long been looking for a reliable source of aerogels with glass-like transparency and high monolithicity to enhance the sensitivity of high energy particle detectors. Aerogels with their extremely low density, refractive index and reasonably high light transmission are highly desirable materials. However, aerogels generally have been rather translucent or opaque rather than transparent like glass. A modified two-step process for making aerogels with glass-like transparency, using an experimental three-liter reactor has been developed. This project will refine and scale up this process to make it commercially viable. It will closely monitor and investigate factors influencing transparency and monolithicity and also look for aerogel dopants that may significantly increase Cherenkov light emissions.

Commercial Applications and Other Benefits as described by the awardee: Transparent aerogels will be very useful for Cherenkov radiation detection, extra-high R-value window glazing, light transmitting structural panels, and skylights._

* Information listed above is at the time of submission. *

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Aerogels with Glass-like Transparency for Cherenkov Detectors