Method of producing glass from metal alkoxide solution

In a method of producing glass from a solution comprising a silicon alkoxide, water and a hydrophilic organic solvent, wherein the silicon alkoxide in the solution undergoes hydrolysis so that the viscosity of the solution gradually increases;

• the method comprising the steps of shaping the material of said solution into a desired form when said solution exhibits an appropriate viscosity for shaping wherein the gelled shaped solution material undergoes gelation, and heating the gelled shaped solution to a temperature sufficient to convert the shaped solution into a glass of the desired form;
• the improvement comprising the step of adding a water-soluble cellulose ether selected from the group consisting of hydroxypropyl cellulose, hydroxyethyl cellulose, hydroxypropylmethyl cellulose, methyl cellulose and ethyl cellulose to said solution as a viscosity increasing agent in an amount effective to increase the viscosity of the solution to from 5 to 30 centipoises at room temperature, the increase in viscosity being effected substantially independently of the progress of said hydrolysis, wherein the shaping of the solution is performed when the viscosity reaches the viscosity for shaping without awaiting the progress of said hydrolysis to effect a shaping viscosity.