Sol-Gel Production (Key Engineering Materials,)

Sol-gel technology is an important route for the fabrication of inorganic and inorganic-organic composite materials. As is typical of chemical synthesis routes, a wide range of parameters can be used to tailor the product. To exploit sol-gel materials for commercial use, the ad vantages of components made this way have to be realized as mere substitution of sol-gel matrials will not usually repay the large development costs. Once relaized, the sol-gel process becomes a valuable tool for product and process innovation. This text treats sol-gel production from a variety of viewpoints, and is an example of how interdisciplinary research, development and technology can lead to innovation in industry.