Study on the entrapment of mercury in porous glasses by neutron scatteringin conjunction with mercury porosimetry

A series of controlled porous glasses (CPGs) with pore sizes from 17 to 300 nm has been examined by very-small-angle neutron scattering (VSANS). The s cattering curves show a peak in a range of Q values, depending on the parti cle size to the average pore size ratio. The entrapment of mercury in CPGs having undergone a complete intrusion-extrusion cycle has also been examine d by VSANS. The peak positions do not vary for the mercury-loaded samples s uggesting no structural changes due to the high intrusion pressures involve d (60,000 psi). It was concluded that an amount of mercury blobs is trapped within the cavities of the glasses. (C) 2000 Elsevier Science B.V. All rig hts reserved.