Porous sol-gel ceramics

Ceramic gels are composed of colloidal particles or polymeric macromolecules aggregated in a three-dimensional very open network. This paper addresses the network architecture of porous materials which can be made from these gels. The main parameters which have an influence on the pores, during the low temperature chemical procedure, as well as during drying or heating, are reviewed. The variety of feasible structures is illustrated on a few examples. The applications, such as in catalysis and filtration, are summarized. (C) 1997 Elsevier Science Limited and Techna S.r.l.