Patent ID: 6620368
Filing Date: 2003-09-16
Classification: C03C,C04B

Abstract:
A method of processing an oxide-based gel monolith comprising pores filled with liquid, the method comprising:removing a portion of the liquid from the pores of the gel monolith, said removing comprising: increasing the temperature from an initial temperature to an elevated temperature range at or above the boiling temperature of the liquid; maintaining the temperature within the elevated temperature range for a period of time, thereby shrinking the volume of the gel monolith and increasing the density of the gel monolith by an amount corresponding to a linear gel shrinkage of between about 15% and 35%; and decreasing the temperature from the elevated temperature range to a lower temperature range substantially below the elevated temperature range, the lower temperature range being above about 10 degrees Celsius below the boiling temperature of the liquid in the pores of the gel monolith and corresponding to a liquid removal rate approximately equal to or less than a pore liquid diffusion rate; and subsequently removing substantially all of the remaining liquid from the pores of the gel monolith, said subsequently removing comprising maintaining the temperature within the lower temperature range for a second period of time of approximately 3 to 20 days.