Formation and Crystallization Behavior of Gels in the Na2O-SiO2-TiO2-ZrO2 System

SiO2-TiO2-ZrO2 and 5Na2O·95(SiO2 + TiO2 + ZrO2) gels were synthesized and role of Na2O in gel formation and crystallization behavior of gels were studied. From Si(OC2H5)4, Ti(iso-OC3H7)4, Zr(n-OC3H7)4 and NaOCH3 solutions in EtOH without H2O, transparent and opaque gels were obtained. Opaque bulk gels, rich in TiO2 or ZrO2 composition in Na2O containing SiO2-TiO2-ZrO2 system, contain agglomerated spherical particles of diameter small <10 μm, in contrast with opaque gels having large particles <30 μm in alkali-free SiO2-TiO2-ZrO2 system. Crystallization temperature (Tc) was measured by DTA on dried gels. Compared with the alkali-free SiO2-TiO2-ZrO2 gels, 5 mol% Na2O containing gels gave lower Tc in SiO2 rich compositions and higher in TiO2 rich or ZrO2 rich compositions.