Sol-Gel Technology

Suggested Reading:
▪ Sol-Gel Science- Brinker, C. and Scherer
▪ Ceramic Processing and Sintering-Rahaman
 The Colloidal State
➢ Solution is an intimate mixture of two or more chemical substances. In solution, the dissolving agent is the solvent
(dispersion medium) and the substance which dissolves is the solute (dispersed phase). The state of matter of a
solution may be solid, liquid or gas which are in the form of atoms, ions, or molecules.
➢ Scottish chemist Thomas Graham (1861) observed that crystalline substances such as sugar, urea, and sodium
chloride passed through the membrane, while others like glue, gelatin and gum arabic did not. The former he
called crystalloids and the latter colloids (Greek, kolla = glue ; eidos = like). Graham thought that the difference in
the behavior of ‘crystalloids’ and ‘colloids’ was due to the particle size.
➢ According to him, depending on the size of solute particles, the solutions are classified into three categories as
follows.
True solutions:
➢ A true solution is a homogeneous solution in which the solute particles have diameters lesser than 1 nm i.e.,
the solute particles are of molecular dimensions.
➢ They do not settle down when the solution is left standing.
➢ The particles are invisible even under powerful microscopes and cannot be separated through filter paper,
parchment paper or animal membranes, e.g. sodium chloride in water, sugar in water etc.

Suspensions:
➢ Suspensions are heterogeneous systems and consist of particles of a solid suspended in a liquid medium, the
particles in suspensions are bigger than 1000 nm.
➢ The particles of a suspension are visible to the naked eye or under a microscope.
➢ They stay only for a limited period i.e. these are not stable as the particles have a tendency to settle down
under the influence of gravity.
➢ The particles of a suspension can neither pass through ordinary filter paper nor through animal membranes,
e.g. sand in water, oil in water etc.
 Colloids:
➢ The term “colloid” is used to describe particles that possess at least one dimension in the size range 103–1 nm.
➢ A distinguishing feature of all colloidal systems is that the contact area between particles and the dispersing
medium is large.
➢ High surface to volume ratio, as a result, interparticle (or surface) forces strongly influence suspension
behavior.
➢ The study of colloidal phenomena, known as colloid science, has led to technological advances in numerous
areas, including ceramic processing, coatings, paints, inks, drug delivery, and even food processing.
➢ It can pass through ordinary filter papers, but not through animal membrane.
➢ Colloidal particles do not settle under gravity.
➢ Movement of dispersed phase under electric field known as electrophoresis
 Types of Colloidal Systems

Medium/Phases Dispersed Phase

Gas Liquid Solid

Gas None Liquid Aerosol Solid Aerosol

(all gases are (Ex: Fog, Hair (Ex: Smoke,
mutually Sprays) Cloud, Air
miscible) particulates)

Dispersion
medium Liquid Foam Emulsion Sol
(Ex: Shaving (Ex: Milk, Hand (Ex: Pigmented
cream) Cream) ink, Blood)

Solid Solid Foam Gel Solid Sol (Ex:

(Ex: aerogel) (Ex: Jelly, Sillica Glass)
Gel)
 Some Nomenlatures
Coagulum: an aggregate of colloidal particles having a relatively tight, dense structure, normally formed
irreversibly.

Coagulation: the process of forming coagulum.

Creaming: the separation of coagulum or flocs from the continuous phase, where the aggregate is less dense than that
phase.

Floc: an aggregate of colloidal particles that have a rather loose, open structure (related to coagulum) may be
reversible to the dispersed state with minimal energy input.

Flocculation: the process of forming flocs.

Monodisperse: particles in the colloidal system have approximately same size.

Polydisperse: a broad range of particle sizes.

Sedimentation: as in creaming except that the aggregates are denser than the liquid and settle to the bottom.
Formation of Colloids
Application Principles involved
Pharmacuticals, cosmetics, inks, paints,lubricants,food Formation and stabilisation of colloids for end-use
products, dyestuff, foams, agriculture chemicals products

Photographic products, ceramics, paper, coatings, Formation of colloids for use in subsequent
magnetics media, catalysts, chromatographic manufacturing processes
adsorbments, membranes and latex film,
electrophotographic toners
Wetting of powders, enhanced petroleum recovery Direct application of colloidal phenomena to processing
detergency, mineral ore, flotation, purification by
absorbtion, electrolytic coatings, industrial
crystallization, chemical waste control,
electrophotography, lithography
Pumping of slurries, coaring technology, caking, powder Handling properties of colloids rheology, sintering
flow, filtration
Water purification, sewage disposal, of aerosols, Destruction of unwanted colloidal phenomena
pollution control, fining of wines and systems beers,
radioactive waste disposal, breaking of unwanted
emultions and foams