Sol-gel processing of silica

Bailey J.K. 1991. The Direct Observation and Modeling of Microstructural Development in Sol-Gel Processing of Silica. [MLM]... 

The subject of sol-gel science is cova-ed in great depth in Ref. 1. We outlined the basic steps in sol-gel processing in ChaptCT 1 when we surveyed the common methods used for the production of ca-amics. This chapter provides a more detailed examination of the science and practice of the process for the fabrication of ceramics and glasses. We shall pay particular attention to the sol-gel processing of silica glass not only because of its practical interest but also because of the heightened understanding of the process mechanisms and structural evolution developed from numerous studies. 

The most commonly used precursors for the sol-gel processing of silica are tetraethoxysilane, Si(OC2H5)4, abbreviated TEOS, which is also referred to as... 

Sol—Gel Processing of Silica—Poly(vinyl acetate) Nanocomposites... 

The generated inorganic structures highly depend on the hydrolysis and condensation conditions and essentially on the nature of the catalyst used to accelerate the gelation process. The role played by the catalyst in the sol-gel processing of silica has been thoroughly examined by Pope and Mackenzie [43]. On the other hand, the mechanisms and kinetics of hydrolysis-condensation reactions have been widely discussed on the basis of the water content and on the pH dependence of the gelation process [44,45]. 

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