Sol-gel process of making gradient-index glass

Details Sol-gel process of making gradient-index glass Sol-gel process of making gradient-index glass

1993-06-25

1994-03-15

Group, Karl

Compositions: ceramic

Ceramic compositions

Glass compositions, compositions containing glass other than...

501 54, 501 65, 501 66, 501 67, 501 68, C03C 304

Patent

active

052945731

ABSTRACT:
The present invention relates to a process for making glass by a sol-gel process. The process is initiated by forming a mixture of silicon alkoxide and an alcohol in a solution sufficiently acidic to partially hydrolyze the silicon alkoxide. An index modifying metal alkoxide selected from the group consisting of alkoxides of titanium and zirconium is then added to the mixture. Water is next added to convert the metal alkoxides to a network of corresponding metal oxides suitable for gelation. The mixture containing the network of metal oxides is then contained for sufficient time to form a gel. The gel is acid leached for enough time to remove some of the index modifying metal oxide. To prevent further removal of index modifying metal oxide from the gel, the gel is fixed. The fixed gel is then rinsed with a solvent to remove precipitates from the gel, dried, and sintered into a transparent gradient-index glass. In another aspect of the present invention, the fixing agent can be acetone or a mixture of water and acetone.

REFERENCES:
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patent: 4797376 (1989-01-01), Caldwell et al.
patent: 4902650 (1990-02-01), Caldwell et al.
patent: 5068208 (1991-11-01), Haun et al.
patent: 5196382 (1993-03-01), Hench et al.
patent: 5238880 (1993-08-01), Inami et al.
Mukherjee, S. P., "Gradient Index Lens Fabrication Processes: A Review, in Topical Meeting on Gradient-Index Optical Imaging" Systems, Honolulu, Hi., Optical Society of America (May 1981), pp. Tu Al-1 to Tu Al-5.
M. Yamane et. al, "Gradient-Index Glass Rods of PbO.multidot.K.sub.2 O.multidot.B.sub.2 O.sub.3 .multidot.SiO.sub.2 System Prepared by the Sol-Gel Process," Journal of Non-Crystalline Solids, 100, 506-10 (1988).
Shingyouchi et. al., Electronics Letters, 22:99-100, 1108-1110 (Oct. 1986).

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