Method for forming article using sol-gel processing

Abstract From the Canadian patent

A silica body useful for forming an optical fiber preform exhibits an ultimate strength of at least 20 MPa at 10 wt.% water loss. The body attains this strength, it is believed, by precipitation of silica at the contact sites of adjacent silica particles thereby forming neck regions. The resultant network provides the strength to the gel body such that, the body is capable of being dried under more severe conditions than a gel body formed by previous sol-gel methods and is also more robust toward handling. The controlled precipitation is attained by inducing gelation and initiating drying at a pH of about 10.5 or higher at which, silica remains highly soluble. By gelling and drying at this …