The sol-gel process is one of the main methods for manufacturing ceramic materials. It involves the synthesis of colloidal solutions (SOLS) and the following formation of a GEL (a continuous inorganic lattice containing an interconnected liquid phase) through hydrolysis and condensation reactions.

Thermal post-treatments of drying and solidification are generally employed to remove the liquid phase from the gel, promote further condensation and increase the mechanical properties.

In general, the sol-gel process (that occurs, for example, when using some products specifically developed for ceramic surface protection from dirty and chemical attacks) promote some important benefits:

– Low-temperature process

– High purity of the final result

– High control of the molecular structure

– High homogeneity level

– Synthesis of mono-structured compounds