Method of removing macro bubble in sol-gel process
OwnerSang-Jin Lee, Keun-Deok Park +1inventors
InventorsSang-Jin Lee, Keun-Deok Park, Ji-Myung Hyun
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Abstract
The present invention relates to a process of producing a silica glass in which the sol is transported from a mixer to a former under a certain amount of pressure. The transportation path of the sol is vacuumized in order to remove macro bubbles that can be potentially produced while the sol is transported from the mixer to the former. The interior of a piping connecting between the mixer for bearing the sol and the former for forming the gel is maintained in the vacuum state so as to effectively remove the macro bubbles, which can be potentially produced during the transportation of the sol.
Claims19
A method of producing a silica glass, the method comprising the steps of:
- (a) transporting a sol from a mixer to a former under a predetermined pressure;
- and,
- (b) removing macro bubbles by vacuumizing a transportation path of the sol being transported from the mixer to the former.
A method of producing a silica glass comprising the steps of:
- providing a sol in a mixer and a transportation path connecting the mixer to a former;
- providing a vaccum state in the mixer and the transportation path;
- and,
- introducing an inert gas into the mixer during the vacuum state so that the pressure of the inert gas forces the sol to travel from the mixer toward the former.
An apparatus for performing a sol-gel process to produce a silica glass comprising:
- a mixer for containing a sol;
- a former for gelling the sol received therein;
- a connecting means for transporting the sol from the mixer and to the former;
- a vaccum pump coupled to the mixer;
- and,
- a vacuum means coupled to the mixer for vacumming the mixer and the interior of the connecting means.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.