Published online by Cambridge University Press: 15 February 2011
A review has been made of our works on two types of sol-gel methods for obtaining oxide fibers through low temperature process: (1) the alkoxide method and (2) the freezing-of-gel method. In the alkoxide method, metal alkoxides in an alcoholic solution are hydrolyzed and polycondensed into chain-like polymers, drawn into gel fibers near room temperature and heated to several hundred °C. Various problems encountered in the process are discussed with SiO2-based fibers. In the freezing-of-gel method, a hydrogel is unidirectionally frozen by lowering the gel cylinder into a cold bath. Thawing of unidirectionally grown ice crystals leaves a bundle of hydroxide fibers. Factors affecting the formation of fibers are discussed with titanium and zirconium hydroxide fibers as examples.