Patent ID: 6890873

Claim:
A method of making glass comprising: forming a dispersion of a pyrogenic silica with water, by mixing said pyrogenic silica with water, gelling the dispersion, drying the dispersion to obtain a microporous body, sintering the body at a sufficient temperature for a sufficient time to produce a sintered glass body; and further comprising adding acetic acid ethyl ester to the dispersion wherein the pyrogenic silica has the following physiochemical properties: a) average particle size (D 50 value, D 50 ≧150 nm dynamic light scattering, 30 wt %); b) viscosity (5 rpm, 30 wt %) η≦100 m·Pas; c) thixotropy of T 1 : (η(5 rpm))/(η(50 rpm))≦2; d) BET surface area 30-60 m 2 /g; e) compacted bulk=100-160 g/L; and f) original pH≦4.5.