[Mitch]

Post thoughts here.

[Borek]

Pretty interesting reading. Three things:

1. I think there is a spelling mistake (poor instead of pore),

2. I don't get the tire/bumper part - which properties of the aerogels will be used in these?

3. Some formatting issues - looks like some lines are hard-broken.

Edit: fourth thing

4. the same picture is used in place of all three (which I haven't spotted first, as I have switched off picture displaying due to the fact I am paying for the transfer - or rather I am overpaying).

[Mitch]

Okay, I've fixed comments 3 and 4--I think, let me know if I missed something again. The author has to respond for 1 and 2.

[Donaldson Tan]

the article never mention what new properties arises if aerogel is mixed with rubber or other polymers. I am also quite curious how the aerogel will bond with the rubber, and still making space within the structure for air to occupy..

[hmx9123]

I was surprised there was not more information about Livermore.  They do a lot of work with those things and their opposite, the xerogels.

http://www-cms.llnl.gov/s-t/aerogel_struct.html

http://www-cms.llnl.gov/s-t/groundwater_age.html

http://www.azom.com/details.asp?ArticleID=2478

http://eande.lbl.gov/ECS/aerogels/sahist.htm

http://www.vacets.org/vtic97/tdtran.htm

http://home.earthlink.net/~douglaspage/id18.html

etc.

The thermite stuff is here:

http://www-cms.llnl.gov/s-t/nanoscale_chemistry.html

[Donaldson Tan]

does Livermore employ non-American chemical engineers?

[Borek]

There is more... These pictures are huge! Can you save them as gif or png (jpg doesn't make sense here)? And pic. 2 signs are unreadable

[hmx9123]

Getting a job at LLNL in an unclassified area, such as atmospheric science, etc., is difficult if you're a foreigner, I think.  It's impossible to work in a classified area if you're not a US citizen.  I believe that most of the Aerogel chemistry that is done there, particularly the work with the Sol gels (and obviously the thermite stuff) is done in the classified area.

[billnotgatez]

I have been reading about aerogels for some time, but in a piecemeal fashion. I think that this article was a good overview that put the information in one place. Maybe the author can continue with some specifics in further essays. I especially like the bibliography. It will help me in my future reading on the topic.