Apparatus and method for forming a sol-gel monolith utilizing multiple casting
AssigneeSimax Technologies, Inc.
InventorsShiho Wang, Yasar Halefoglu, Chih-hsing Cheng, Dengfeng Xu
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Abstract
A mold is configured to form a gel monolith including a first gel portion and a second gel portion. The mold includes a base including a first hydrophobic surface. The mold further includes a tubular outer wall including a second hydrophobic surface, and the outer wall is coupled to the base. The mold further includes a removable tubular insert including an inner surface and an outer hydrophobic surface. The insert is removably coupled to the base.
Claims48
A mold for forming a gel monolith comprising a first gel portion and a second gel portion, the mold comprising:
- a base comprising a first hydrophobic surface;
- a tubular outer wall comprising a second hydrophobic surface, the outer wall coupled to the base;
- and
- a removable tubular insert comprising an inner surface and an outer hydrophobic surface, the insert removably coupled to the base.
A method of forming a gel monolith having a first gel portion and a second gel portion, the method comprising:
- preparing a first sol-gel solution comprising at least 3 mole % of a first catalyst;
- providing a mold having a first volume and a second volume, at least a portion of the first volume having a common boundary with at least a portion of the second volume;
- forming the first gel portion in the first volume, said forming comprising allowing the first sol-gel solution to gel in the first volume;
- preparing a second sol-gel solution comprising at least 3 mole % of a second catalyst;
- and
- forming the second gel portion in the second volume after the first sol-gel portion has gelled along the common boundary, said forming comprising allowing the second sol-gel solution to gel in the second volume.
A method of forming a gel monolith comprising a plurality of gel portions, the method comprising:
- preparing a first sol-gel solution comprising at least 3 mole % of a first catalyst;
- forming a tubular gel portion, said forming comprising confining the first sol-gel solution to a tubular volume and allowing the first sol-gel solution to gel while confined to the tubular volume;
- preparing a second sol-gel solution comprising at least 3 mole % of a second catalyst;
- and
- forming a cylindrical gel portion, said forming comprising confining the second sol-gel solution to a cylindrical volume within the tubular volume and allowing the second sol-gel solution to gel while in the cylindrical volume.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.