Abstract:
Process for the production of monoliths of glass by means of the sol-gel process, comprising the following steps:
a) dispersion in water of an oxide prepared by the pyrogenic route, b) hydrolysis of an alkoxide in aqueous solution to form a hydrolysate, c) mixing of the hydrolysate of the alkoxide with the oxide prepared by the pyrogenic route to form a colloidal sol, d) optional removal of coarse contents from the colloidal sol, e) gelling of the colloidal sol in a mould, f) replacement of the water contained in the resulting aerogel by an organic solvent, g) drying of the aerogel, h) heat treatment of the dried aerogel.
Abstract:
Sol-gel process for the production of optical fiber preforms or overcladdings by preparing a sol, gelling the sol, drying the wet gel to a dry porous gel by supercritical drying and densifying the dry gel to fully dense glass, wherein during the calcination treatment from 350°C to 900°C under pure oxygen or a mixture of oxygen and an inert gas or gases to remove organic impurities in the dry gel, at least one reduced-pressure phase at a pressure comprised between about 0.01 and 0.5 bar is carried out.
Abstract:
Process for the production of monoliths by means of the sol-gel process, comprising the following steps:
a. hydrolysis of an alkoxide in aqueous solution to form a hydrolysate and optionally evaporation to optimum concentration of the same, b. addition of an oxide prepared by the pyrogenic route, c. mixing of the hydrolysate of the alkoxide with the oxide prepared by the pyrogenic route to form a colloidal sol, d. optional removal of coarse contents from the colloidal sol, e. gelling of the colloidal sol in a mould, f. optional replacement of the water contained in the resulting aerogel by an organic solvent, g. drying of the aerogel, h. heat treatment of the dried aerogel, the coarse content being removed from the colloidal sol.