Introduction to Sol-Gel Processing: (1 The International Series in Sol-Gel Processing: Technology & Applications)

This text introduces undergraduate and graduate students to the field of colloids applied to materials processing, better known as sol-gel processing. It is written for engineering or science students in the fields of chemical engineering, materials processing, ceramics engineering, colloid science and mineral chemistry. However, the most important facts about the most recent developments, including mixed organic-inorganic sol-gels known as hybrid materials and the use of surfactants and micelles, are addressed. More precisely, the book focuses on gathering the main theories related to sol-gel processing in a comprehensive manner, so as to provide the most important scientific basis to students. The book is organized in such a way that each chapter corresponds to one of the main steps in a chronological order of application of sol-gel techniques to the synthesis of materials. The book first presents elementary solvent chemistry, in particular the partial charge model theory. Next, theories on the nucleation and growth of particles and on the steric or electrostatic stabilization (also known as DLVO theory) of colloidal suspensions, are gathered in a chapter on colloidal particles. Another chapter is devoted to the theories on gelation. Gels, their structure and properties at large such as their swelling, shrinkage or drying behaviour, also constitute an important chapter. After drying, gels become almost traditional ceramic materials and they are often submitted to thermal treatments during which they can phase-transform and sinter. Two chapters offer an opportunity to gather the main theories related to these two fields. Finally, the main applications are reviewed according to the domains of application, particularly for coatings, filtering membranes, and catalysts.

Table of Contents:
Table of Content.- 1 - General Introduction.- 1.1 - Short history.- 1.2 - Sols, gels and gelation.- 1.3 - Outline of sol-gel processing.- 1.4 - Recent developments.- 1.5 - Advantages and limitations of sol-gel processing.- 1.6 - Organization of the book.- 1.7 - References.- 2 - The Chemistry of Precursors Solutions.- 2.1 - Introduction 11 2.2 - Solvents.- 2.2 - Solvents.- 2.3 - Basis of precursors transformations in solution.- 2.4 - Metal salts solutions.- 2.5 - Alkoxides solutions.- 2.6 - Other precursors.- 2.7 - Precursors mixing.- 2.8 - Non-oxide solutions.- 2.9 - References.- 3 - Colloidal Particles and Sols.- 3.1 - Introduction.- 3.2 - Nucleation and growth of particles in a liquid medium.- 3.3 - Powders not synthesized in liquid medium.- 3.4 - Sols.- 3.5 - Other phenomena in sols.- 3.6 - References.- 4 - Gelation.- 4.1 - Introduction.- 4.2 - Gelation and percolation models.- 4.3 - Growth-gelation models.- 4.4 - Experimental study of gelation.- 4.5 - Gelation mechanisms of ceramic materials.- 4.6 - References.- 5 - Gels.- 5.1 - Introduction.- 5.2 - Structure and classification of gels.- 5.3 - Properties of wet gels.- 5.4 - Drying gels.- 5.5 - Properties of dry gels.- 5.6 - References.- 6 - New Types of Sol-Gel Derived Materials.- 6.1 - Introduction.- 6.2 - Hybrid organic inorganic materials.- 6.3 - Ordered mesoporous materials made with surfactants.- 6.4 - References.- 7 - Phase Transformations.- 7.1 - Introduction.- 7.2 - Chemical transformations at intermediate temperatures.- 7.3 - Topotactic crystallization.- 7.4 - Glass formation.- 7.5 - Crystallization by nucleation and growth.- 7.6 - Conversion of oxides to non-oxides.- 7.7 - References.- 8 - Sintering Sol-Gel Ceramics.- 8.1 - Introduction.- 8.2 - Possible texture evolution.- 8.3 - Atomic transport mechanismsoperating during sintering.- 8.4 - Grain growth.- 8.5 - Interaction of pores with the sintering process.- 8.6 - Hot-pressing.- 8.7 - References.- 9 - Applications of Sol-Gel Processing.- 9.1 - Introduction.- 9.2 - Applications in the sol or in the gel state.- 9.3 - Coatings and thin films.- 9.4 - Fibers.- 9.5 - Monoliths.- 9.6 - Filtration membranes.- 9.7 - Sol-gel catalysts.- 9.8 - Applications of hybrid organic inorganic materials.- 9.9 - References.