PREPARATION OF SHAPED GLASSES THROUGH THE SOL-GEL METHOD.

Abstract

In the sol-gel preparation of oxide glasses using metal alkoxides as raw materials, the content of water added for hydrolysis of the alkoxides must be controlled depending on the desired shape of the glass. Larger water contents of the starting solution are preferred for the production of bulk glasses, while smaller water contents lead to the formation of fiber glasses. The volume change of gelling fibers occurring during solidification is related to the shape of the cross-section of the resulting fibers.