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Mukherjee, S. P.

Publications and source records attributed to Mukherjee, S. P..

Sol-Gel Glasses

Multicomponent homogeneous, ultrapure noncrystalline gels/gel derived glasses are promising batch materials for the containerless glass melting experiments in microgravity. Hence, ultrapure, homogeneous gel precursors could be used to: (1) investigate the effect of the container induced nucleation on the glass forming ability of marginally glass forming compositions; and (2) investigate the influence of gravity on the phase separation and coarsening behavior of gel derived glasses in the liquid-liquid immiscibility zone of the nonsilicate systems having a high density phase. The structure and crystallization behavior of gels in the SiO2-GeO2 as a function of gel chemistry and thermal treatment were investigated. As are the chemical principles involved in the distribution of a second network former in silica gel matrix being investigated. The procedures for synthesizing noncrystalline gels/gel-monoliths in the SiO2-GeO2, GeO2-PbO systems were developed. Preliminary investigations on the levitation and thermal treatment of germania silicate gel-monoliths in the Pressure Facility Acoustic Levitator were done.

Mukherjee, S. P.↗

Pure Glasses From Multicomponent Gels

Report describes experiments with multicomponent gels for preparation of pure glass. Experiments aimed at developing zerogravitation process for fabrication of low-loss optical fibers.

Mukherjee, S. P.↗

Random and block copolymerization in metal oxide gel synthesis from metalorganic compounds

The introduction and development of the block copolymerization concept in metal oxide gel synthesis will in the future generate a new class of glass/microcrystalline materials. By the year 2004, better scientific understanding of the chemical principles controlling the distribution of network formers or modifiers in silicate gels will permit the synthesis of architecturally well-defined block polymers with unique high-performance behavior.

Mukherjee, S. P.↗

Homogeneity of gels and gel-derived glasses

The significance and implications of gel preparation procedures in controlling the homogeneity of multicomponent oxide gels are discussed. The role of physicochemical factors such as the structure and chemical reactivities of alkoxides, the formation of double-metal alkoxides, and the nature of solvent(s) are critically analyzed in the context of homogeneity of gels during gelation. Three procedures for preparing gels in the SiO2-B2O3-Na2O system are examined in the context of cation distribution. Light scattering results for glasses in the SiO2-B2O3-Na2O system prepared by both the gel technique and the conventional technique are examined.

Mukherjee, S. P.↗

Ultrapure glass optical waveguide: Development in microgravity by the sol gel process

The sol-gel process for the preparation of homogeneous gels in three binary oxide systems was investigated. The glass forming ability of certain compositions in the selected oxide systems (SiO-GeO2, GeO2-PbO, and SiO2-TiO2) were studied based on their potential importance in the design of optical waveguide at longer wavelengths.

Mukherjee, S. P.↗

Siloxanes, silanes, and silazanes in the preparation of ceramics and glasses

The use of selected organosilicon compounds for the preparation of silicon based ceramic materials is discussed in terms of processing microstructure-property relationships. The mechanisms operative in the formation of gel derived silicate glasses and glass ceramics are reasonably well understood, but this is not true for silicon carbide/nitride based ceramics. The properties of organosilicon precursors and the mechanism of pyrolysis affect the microstructural features of the ceramic. Reaction mechanisms are proposed and the microstructural features and properties of organosilazane derived ceramics discussed.

Wills, R. R.↗

Gels and gel-derived glasses in the system Na2O-B2O3-SiO2

The containerless melting of high-purity multicomponent homogeneous gels and gel monoliths offers a unique approach to making ultrapure multicomponent optical glasses in the reduced gravity environment of space. Procedures for preparing and characterizing gels and gel-derived glasses in the system Na2O-B2O3-SiO2 are described. Preparation is based on the polymerization reactions of alkoxysilane with trimethyl borate or boric acid and a suitable sodium compound. The chemistry of the gelling process is discussed in terms of process parameters and the gel compositions. The physicochemical nature of gels prepared by three different procedures was found to be significantly different. Infrared absorption spectra indicate finite differences in the molecular structures of the different gels. The melting of the gel powders and the transformation of porous gel monoliths to transparent 'glass' without melting are described.

Mukherjee, S. P.↗

Gels and gel-derived glasses in the Na2O-B2O3-SiO2 system

The containerless melting of high-purity multicomponent homogeneous gels and gel-monoliths offers a unique approach to making ultrapure multicomponent optical glasses in the reduced gravity environment of space. Procedures for preparing and characterizing gels and gel-derived glasses in the Na2O-B2O3-SiO2 system are described. Preparation is based on the polymerization reactions of alkoxysilane with trimethyl borate or boric acid and a suitable sodium compound. The chemistry of the gelling process is discussed in terms of process parameters and the gel compositions. The physicochemical nature of gels prepared by three different procedures were found to be significantly different. IR absorption spectra indicate finite differences in the molecular structures of the different gels. The melting of the gel powders and the transformation of porous gel-monoliths to transparent 'glass' without melting are described.

Mukherjee, S. P.↗

Ultrapure glass optical waveguide development in microgravity by the sol-gel process

Multicomponent, homogeneous, noncrystalline oxide gels can be prepared by the sol-gel process and these gels are promising starting materials for melting glasses in the space environment. The sol-gel process referred to here is based on the polymerization reaction of alkoxysilane with other metal alkoxy compounds or suitable metal salts. Many of the alkoxysilanes or other metal alkoxides are liquids and thus can be purified by distillation. The use of gels offers several advantages such as high purity and lower melting times and temperatures. The sol-gel process is studied for utilization in the preparation of multicomponent ultrapure glass batches for subsequent containerless melting of the batches in space to prepare glass blanks for optical waveguides.

Mukherjee, S. P.↗

Ultrapure glass optical waveguide development in microgravity by the sol-gel process

The alkali-borosilicate system was selected as the glass system for the preparation of ultrapure low loss glasses suitable for optical communication. The effect of different oxide contents on the absorption loss was critically reviewed. One composition was chosen to develop the gel preparation procedure in the alkali-borosilicate system. In addition, several procedures for the preparation of gels based on two different approaches were developed. The influence of different preparation parameters were investigated qualitatively. Several conclusions are drawn from the results.

Mukherjee, S. P.↗