Microstructure Control of Porous Silica Glass with Monodispersed Spherical Silica Particles

Abstract

The processing of porous silica bodies was investigated by the consolidation and sintering method using spherical silica particles. Monodispersed silica particles with various diameters were consolidated by dry pressing, slip casting, colloidal pressing and sedimentation. Pore size was directly proportional to particle size in all four consolidation methods. Pore diameter of porous glass can be easily controlled by changing the particle size. The consolidation and the sintering conditions were found to be the essential factors in terms of the porosity, the pore distribution and the pore size of sintered bodies.