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Evolution of the Mechanical Properties During the Gel–Glass Process

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Abstract

Different kinds of structure in alcogels and aerogels (fractal or not fractal) can be synthesized by a control of the chemical parameters and also by different steps in the preparation such as sintering and plastic compaction. The porosity of the gels is affected either by the adjustment of the gelifying concentration, by a precise control of the viscous flow sintering process, or by an isostatic pressure deformation. The different kinds of gels cover the whole range of porosity between 99 % and 0 %, and their mechanical properties (elastic modulus, strength, toughness) are strongly dependent on the porosity but also on their structure. We follow the mechanical properties of the over the whole process alcogel – aerogel – glass. They vary by five orders of magnitude as a function of the density, and for the same relative density, the elastic modulus and strength can increase by one order of magnitude due to a change in connectivity. The influence of the sintering process compared to isostatic pressure on the mechanical properties is explained by the associated structural changes.

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Acknowledgments

The authors would like to thank the editors of Journal of Non-Crystalline Solids, Journal of Sol–Gel Science and Technology and the European Physical Journal for their permission to publish figures here reported.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. IMBE, CNRS, IRD, Aix Marseille Université, Avignon Université, CAEC, Le Lamentin, Le Lamentin,, 97232, Martinique, France

    Thierry Woignier

  2. Laboratoire Charles Coulomb, Montpellier Université, Université Montpellier 2, Place E. Bataillon, 34095, Cedex 5, Montpellier, France

    F. Despetis, P. Etienne & J. Phalippou

  3. Faculté des Sciences et Techniques de Tanger, B.P. 416, 90000, Tangier, Morocco

    A. Alaoui

  4. PRIME Verre, Montpellier, France Le Lamentin, PAT du Millénaire, 34000, Martinique, France

    L. Duffours

Authors
  1. Thierry Woignier
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  2. F. Despetis
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  3. P. Etienne
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  4. A. Alaoui
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  5. L. Duffours
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  6. J. Phalippou
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Thierry Woignier .

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. Rutgers University, Piscataway, New Jersey, USA

    Lisa Klein

  2. Madrid, Spain

    Mario Aparicio

  3. City University of New York, New York, USA

    Andrei Jitianu

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© 2016 Springer International Publishing Switzerland

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Woignier, T., Despetis, F., Etienne, P., Alaoui, A., Duffours, L., Phalippou, J. (2016). Evolution of the Mechanical Properties During the Gel–Glass Process. In: Klein, L., Aparicio, M., Jitianu, A. (eds) Handbook of Sol-Gel Science and Technology. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-19454-7_43-1

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-19454-7_43-1

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  • Publisher Name: Springer, Cham

  • Online ISBN: 978-3-319-19454-7

  • eBook Packages: Springer Reference Chemistry and Mat. ScienceReference Module Physical and Materials ScienceReference Module Chemistry, Materials and Physics

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