Preparation of Mullite Dispersed Silica Ceramics through Sol-Gel Processing

Mullite-dispersed silica ceramics were prepared through sol-gel processing by the use of tetraethoxy silane, aluminium nitrate and aluminium isopropoxide as the Si and Al sources where HCl and HN0(3) were the catalyst. Effect of the starting materials, solvents and catalysts was examined on the gelation time or temperature of mullite precipitation. Apparent activation energy of gelation ranged from 80 to 95kJ/mol. The presence of AI in the sols elongated the gelling time suggesting the formation of chelate bonds between AI and Si-OR or Si-OH bonds.