Structural Studies of Sol-Gel Glasses
Abstract
Near and Mid infrared spectroscopy and FT-Raman spectroscopy have been used to study silica/titania monoliths produced by the sol-gel route which have been subjected to selected heat treatments. Increasing thermal treatment temperature leads to a general strengthening of the gel-glass matrix although the incorporation of low levels (3% by weight) of titanium into tetrahedral sites only, led to more disordered glasses than for silica alone. Evidence has been obtained for the formation of Si-O-Ti bonds principally during the later stages of densification at temperatures between 615 and 1000 deg C. The addition of titanium also leads to a reduction in surface 'free' silanol levels together with an increase in hydrogen bonded silanol levels and increasing amounts of water associated with the glass. The implication is that the incorporation of titanium onto the surface of the gel matrix leads to tighter binding of water molecules to silanol groups.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Jul 14, 1992
- Accession Number
- ADA266277
Entities
People
- Carole Perry
Organizations
- Brunel University London