Published online by Cambridge University Press: 21 February 2011
A feasibility study of continuous casting of particulate silica sols has been conducted. The process consists in measured pumping of the sol and a gelling agent into a heated mold where the sol gels. The gel is continuously pushed out of the cylindrical mold by the pressure of the pumped sol. Gel rods of 2.5 cm diameter, up to 150 cm long, were prepared by this method. Temperature dependence of the gelation was studied, and activation energies of the process were determined.