Sol/gel (process) - Reflexions

Sol/gel (process)

The sol-gel process makes possible the fabrication of non-fusion vitreous materials by simple polymerisation of molecular precursors in solution. The great advantage of this procedure is that it is carried out at low temperature (from 20 to 150°C) and allows for use of porous materials. The best-known of these is undoubtedly silica gel, formed from silicon which appears as a set, rigid and transparent liquid made up of a network of polymeric silicon housing the solvent in its pores. It is at this moment that an essential stage of the fabrication of these materials comes into play- the drying. This operation consists in draining off the solvent from the polymeric network.