Patent US5078919A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US5078919A
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Composition containing aerogel substrate loaded with tritium
Assignee: United States Department of Energy
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Filing: 1990-03-20
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Granted: 1992-01-07
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Expires: 2010-03-20
Abstract
Abstract The invention provides a process for loading an aerogel substrate with tritium and the resultant compositions. According to the process, an aerogel substrate is hydrolyzed so that surface OH groups are formed. The hydrolyzed aerogel is then subjected to tritium exchange employing, for example, a tritium-containing gas, whereby tritium atoms replace H atoms of surface OH groups. OH and/or CH groups of residual alcohol present in the aerogel may also undergo tritium exchange.
Inventors
- 👤 Carol S. Ashley
- 👤 C. Jeffrey Brinker
- 👤 Robert E. Ellefson
- 👤 John T. Gill
- 👤 Scott Reed
- 👤 Robert J. Walko
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-23 15:50
CPC Classifications
C; C09; C09K; C09K11/00; C09K11/04
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 18
Claim 1
Independent Claim
80 words
A composition comprising: an aerogel or xerogel substrate loaded with tritium and a component capable of emitting radiation upon interaction of the component with beta particles emitted from the tritium, wherein the loading of said aerogel or xerogel substrate with tritium is performed by initially hydrolyzing the surface of the substrate and then subjecting the hydrolyzed substrate to tritium exchange, whereby tritium atoms replace hydrogen atoms of hydrolyzed surface groups, and wherein said composition is a volumetric source of radiation.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
80 words
A composition comprising: an aerogel or xerogel substrate loaded with tritium and a component capable of emitting radiation upon interaction of the component with beta particles emitted from the tritium, wherein the loading of said aerogel or xerogel substrate with tritium is performed by initially hydrolyzing the surface of the substrate and then subjecting the hydrolyzed substrate to tritium exchange, whereby tritium atoms replace hydrogen atoms of hydrolyzed surface groups, and wherein said composition is a volumetric source of radiation.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
12 words
A composition according to claim 1, wherein said substrate is an aerogel.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
94 words
A composition comprising: an aerogel or xerogel substrate loaded with tritium and a component capable of emitting radiation upon interaction of the component with beta particles emitted from the tirtium, wherein said loading of said aerogel or xerogel substrate with tritium is performed by initially hydrolyzing the surface of the substrate and then subjecting the hydrolyzed substrate to tritium exchange, whereby tritium atoms replace hydrogen atoms of hydrolyzed surface groups, wherein said composition is a volumetric source of radiation, and wherein said substrate transmits said radiation of said second energy to a substantial degree.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
94 words
A composition comprising: an aerogel or xerogel substrate loaded with tritium and a component capable of emitting radiation upon interaction of the component with beta particles emitted from the tirtium, wherein said loading of said aerogel or xerogel substrate with tritium is performed by initially hydrolyzing the surface of the substrate and then subjecting the hydrolyzed substrate to tritium exchange, whereby tritium atoms replace hydrogen atoms of hydrolyzed surface groups, wherein said composition is a volumetric source of radiation, and wherein said substrate transmits said radiation of said second energy to a substantial degree.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
13 words
A composition according to claim 3, wherein said substrate is a silica aerogel.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
20 words
A composition according to claim 3, wherein said substrate has a pore volume of at least about 95 vol. %.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
31 words
A composition according to claim 3, wherein said substrate has a pore size distribution of about 1 nm-500 nm and a surface area of at least about 300 m 2 /g.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
24 words
A composition according to claim 3, wherein tritium is present in said substrate in an amount of at least about 4.5×10 moles/cm 3 .
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
20 words
A composition according to claim 3, wherein the amount of tritium present is at least about 0.002 curies/mg of substrate.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
17 words
A composition according to claim 3, wherein said radiation comprises a wavelength within the visible light range.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
26 words
A composition according to claim 3, wherein said component is present in said substrate in the amount of at least about 5.1×10 -3 moles/cm 3 .
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
12 words
A composition according to claim 3, wherein said component is a phosphor.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
30 words
A radiation-emitting device comprising a container having contained therein a composition according to claim 1 and wherein said container transmits said radiation of said second energy to a substantial degree.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
24 words
A radiation-emitting device according to claim 12, wherein said component is a phosphor and said radiation comprises a wavelength in the visible light range.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
100 words
In a radiation-emitting composition comprising tritium and a component which emits non-β radiation upon interaction with β-radiation emanating from said tritium, wherein the improvement comprises: an aerogel or xerogel substrate loaded with tritium and a component capable of emitting radiation upon interaction of the component with beta particles emitted from the tritium, wherein the loading of said aerogel of xerogel substrate with tritium is performed by initially hydrolyzing the surface of the substrate and then subjecting the hydrolyzed substrate to tritium exchange, wherein tritium atoms replace hydrogen atoms of hydrolyzed surface groups, and said composition volumetrically emits said non-β radiation.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
100 words
In a radiation-emitting composition comprising tritium and a component which emits non-β radiation upon interaction with β-radiation emanating from said tritium, wherein the improvement comprises: an aerogel or xerogel substrate loaded with tritium and a component capable of emitting radiation upon interaction of the component with beta particles emitted from the tritium, wherein the loading of said aerogel of xerogel substrate with tritium is performed by initially hydrolyzing the surface of the substrate and then subjecting the hydrolyzed substrate to tritium exchange, wherein tritium atoms replace hydrogen atoms of hydrolyzed surface groups, and said composition volumetrically emits said non-β radiation.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
11 words
A composition according to claim 1, wherein said substrate is xerogel.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
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| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1995-01-06 | 1995-07-08 | 1996-01-07 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1999-01-06 | 1999-07-08 | 2000-01-07 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2003-01-06 | 2003-07-08 | 2004-01-07 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |