Silica glass fiber preparation

Sol-gel preparations of tetraethoxysilane can be spun into fibers once the appropriate viscosity has been achieved. These fibers are only slightly weaker than silica-glass fibers. 

Unuma H., Suzuki Y., Sakka S. Preparation of silica glass fibers from tetraethylorthosilicate and... 

Instant thin layer chromatography (ITLC) plates are prepared from ground-up glass fibers impregnated with silica gel. This provides a uniform plate, readily wetted by the more polar solvents so capillary action is rapid. The plates are fragile and should be handled accordingly. 

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