Preparation of monolithic silica gel and glass by the sol-gel method using N,N-dimethylformamide

The use of N,N-dimethylformamide (DMF) was found to be effective in the sol-gel synthesis of silica gel and glass monoliths from tetramethoxysi lane (TMOS) by the sol-gel method. Wet gel bodies prepared by gelation of TMOS-DMF-CH₃OH-H₂O-NH₄OH (or HNO₃) solutions could be dried without the occurrence of fracture or cracks when drying conditions were appropriate. Furthermore, the resultant dried gel monoliths could be converted without cracking or bloating to silica glass on heating up to 1050° C and holding there for 2 h, when the composition of the starting solution was appropriate.