SOL GEL

SOL
A sol is a dispersion of solid particles (range 0.1 to 1
micrometre) in a continuous liquid medium. Sols are
quite stable due to dispersing agent . Sols are held
together by vander wall forces. They shows brownian
motion .
Examples include blood, pigmented ink , cell fluid and
paint.
GEL
A gel is a dispersion of molecule of a liquid within a
solid in which the solid is the continuos phase and the
liquid is discontinuous phase.There is a cross linked
system in gel which exhibits no flow in steady
state.Examples are jelly , gelatin , face cream.
SOL GEL
Sol gel involves the evolution of inorganic network
through the formation of colloidal suspension (sol)
and gelation of the sol to form a network in a
continuous liquid phase (gel)
The process involves conversion of monomers into
a colloidal solution (sol) that acts as the precursor for
an integrated network ( gel) of either discrete
particles or network polymers
Typical precursors are metal alkoxides.
Origin of sol gel technique
The sol-gel method was developed in the 1960s. Many
inorganic materials such as metal oxides or carbides can be
prepared fairly simply by mixing powder reactant and heating
to give desired products. But there are some drawbacks like
In mixture of two or more powders , complete conversion
is limited by mass transport
initial reaction takes place at the edge of adjacent particles
If reactants diffusion is blocked there will be areas of
unreacted starting material.
Some of the issues can be overcome by ball milling like
reducing particle size and increasing sample surface area.
However ,extended heating required for this and it is difficult
to control particle morphology using solid state methods.
so an alternative to solid state chemistry ,a range of solution
technique have emerged including sol gel method.
As sol gel having some particular advantages which are
Ability to produce a solid state material from a
chemically homogeneous precursor.
Ability to produce complex inorganic materials such as
tertinary and quaternary oxides at low temperature
Great control over particle morphology and size .
Hence ,Sol gel use for following purposes :
Fabrication of metal oxides
Thin film
Fine powder and monoliths
 SOL GEL COATING PROCESS : following steps .
The desired colloidal particles once dispersed in
liquid to form a sol.

Deposition of this sol solution on substrate.

Which is done by the following ways :
1 Dipping
coating
2 Spinning
coating

3 Flow
coating

4 Spraying
coating
 The particles in sol are polymerised through the
removal of the stabilising components and
produce a gel in a state of continuos network.
The final heat treatment pyrolised the remaning
organic or inorganic component and forms an
amorphous or crystalline coating.
SOL GEL PREPERATION OF SILICA GEL
Silica gel is prepared from tetraethyl orthosilicate
under hydrolytic condition using either acid or
base catalysis. It result in the formation of the
network of Si-O-Si chemical linkage from the
alkoxy silane
Mechanism involve in it
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Under acidic condition (slow hydrolysis) , the silica tends to form

linear molecule that are occasionally cross linked . These molecular
chains entangle and form additional branches resulting in gelation.
Under basic conditions (faster hydrolysis) more highly
branched clusters form that are not interpenetrable
before drying and thus behave as discrete species.
SUMMARY
ADVANTAGES OF SOL GEL TECHNIQUE
Can produce thin bond coating to provide excellent
adhesion between the metallic substrate and the top
coat.
Can produce thick coating to provide corrosion
protection performance.
Can easily shape materials into complex geometries
in a gel state.
Can produce high purity products because the
organo-metallic precursor of the desired ceramic
oxides can be mixed , dissolved in a specified solvent
and hydrolyzed into a sol,and subsequently a gel, the
composition can be highly controllable.
Can have low temperature sintering capability,
usually 200-600degree c
APPLICATIONS OF SOL GEL
Capacitors in piezoelectricity
Transparent semiconductor
Glasses , lenses
Nano powder for dental and biomedical
REQUIREMENT FOR OBTANING GOOD QUALITY IN
THIS TECHNIQUE
Variation of PH
Temperature
Time
Concentration of Reagent
Concentration of Catalyzor
H2O/Si
Phase transition from Sol to Gel
Drying

STEPS IN SOL GEL TECHNIQUE

 1. Low temperature processing and
consolidation 1s possrble.
2. Smaller particle size and morphological
control in poivder synthesis.
3. Sintering at low temperature also possible.
4. Better homogeneity and phase purity
compared to traditional ceramic method.
LIMITATIONS OF SOL GEL
1. Raw materials for this process is expensive (in
the case of metal alkoxides)
compared to mineral based metal ion sources.
2. Products would contain high carbon content
when organic reagents are used in
preparative steps and this would inhiblt
densification during sintering.
3. Since several steps are involved, close
monitoring of the process is needed.