A rapid gelation, two-step method for the production of an aerogel
precursor is disclosed. The method involves the addition of a small amount
of catalyst during mixing of alcogel components in order to allow some
pre-polymerization to occur. Next, the addition of the remainder of the
catalyst quickly forms or gels the solution into the alcogel. The gelation
of the solution to form the alcogel typically takes place in 5 to 60
seconds, but can be done in under 1 second and in as long as several
hours. The gel time can be controlled specifically by adjusting the
chemical contents of the solution and the amount of time between the two
additions of catalyst. The resulting alcogel can then be processed further
to form an aerogel which can be put to use in many unique applications
including fabrics, insulative blocks, and microchips.
