Small angle neutron scattering and small angle x-ray scattering from bulk microporus silica

The microstructure of low-density porous silica precursor (unsintered) bodies was studied as a function of starting chemistry. The ratio of colloidal silica sol to potassium silicate is known to have a marked effect on the size distribution of pores in this material, which in turn have a major impact on the resultant physical properties of the sintered product. In the present research, the sizes and the size distributions of particles underlying the pore microstructure was investigated. It is found that the lower the amount of colloidal silica, the greater the size distribution of particle aggregates