Sol-gel process utilizing reduced mixing temperatures

US7026362B2 · kind B2 · utility

Assignee

• SiMa Technologies, Inc. · US

Inventors

• Shiho Wang · Lake Forest, US
• Yasar Halefoglu · Aliso Viejo, US
• Chih-hsing Cheng · Fullerton, US
• Dengfeng Xu · Beijing, CN
• David Kwong Nung Chan · Willow View Lane, US
• Meng-ying Chen · Taipei, TW
• Chinh Do · Westminster, US

Key dates

• Filing date: Oct 9, 2001
• Grant date: Apr 11, 2006
• Expiry date: Dec 31, 2022

Classification

• Technology area (CPC Y): Emerging Cross-Sectional Technologies
• CPC primary: Y10T428/249969
• WIPO field: Materials, metallurgy
• WIPO sector: Chemistry

Abstract

A method of forming a gel monolith includes preparing a first solution comprising metal alkoxide and preparing a second solution comprising a catalyst. A third solution is prepared by mixing the first solution and the second solution together. At least one of the first, second, and third solutions is cooled to achieve a mixture temperature for the third solution which is substantially below room temperature, wherein the third solution has a significantly longer gelation time at the mixture temperature as compared to a room temperature gelation time for the third solution. The method further includes allowing the third solution to gel, thereby forming the gel monolith.