Solvent Management Methods for Gel Production
Embodiments of the present invention describe a method for continuous manufacture of a gel material comprising the steps of: forming a gel sheet by dispensing a gel precursor mixture onto a moving element at a rate effective to allow gelation to occur to the gel precursor mixture on the moving element; and cooling the formed gel thereby reducing the rate of solvent evaporation therefrom.
1 . A method for continuous manufacture of a gel material comprising the steps of:
(a) forming a gel sheet by dispensing a gel precursor mixture onto a moving element at a predetermined rate effective to allow gelation to occur to the gel precursor mixture on the moving element; and
(b) cooling the formed gel thereby reducing the rate of solvent evaporation therefrom.
2 . The method of claim 1 wherein the gel precursor mixture comprises metal oxides.
3 . The method of claim 2 further comprising the step of continuously combining said gel precursor mixture with a fibrous structure.
4 . The method of claim 3 wherein the fibrous structure comprises a fibrous batting.
5 . The method of claim 1 wherein the gel is cooled to below about 20° C.
6 . The method of claim 5 wherein the gel is cooled to between about 20° C. and about 0° C.
7 . The method of claim 1 wherein the gel is cooled via a cooling means positioned adjacent to said gel.
8 . The method of claim 7 wherein the cooling means comprises a structure for containing a coolant fluid.
9 . The method of claim 7 wherein the cooling means conveys a coolant fluid.
10 . The method of claim 8 or 9 wherein the coolant fluid comprises a liquid, gas or both.