Abstract:
A process for producing microspheres of silica having a maximum diameter of at least 2.5 mu m particularly about 2.5 mu m to 10 mu m from the hydrolysis of a silica precursor, such as a tetraalkoxysilane, which is characterized by employing precursor solutions and feed rates which initially yield a two-phase reaction mixture and beginning the hydrolysis reaction with solutions cooled below ambient temperatures, preferably below about 10 DEG C. Either monodisperse or polydisperse microspheres may be formed.
Abstract:
A process for producing microspheres of silica having a maximum diameter of at least 2.5 νm particularly about 2.5 νm to 10 νm from the hydrolysis of a silica precursor, such as a tetraalkoxysilane, which is characterized by employing precursor solutions and feed rates which initially yield a two-phase reaction mixture and beginning the hydrolysis reaction with solutions cooled below ambient temperatures, preferably below about 10 °C. Either monodisperse or polydisperse microspheres may be formed.