SILICA THIN PIECE AND PREPARATION THEREOF

摘要

Hydrated sodium silicate particles can be expanded by heat to form thin-walled bubbles that can be broken, neutralized, washed and dried to provide hydrated silica flakes. These flakes (30) can be mixed with non-swelling sorptive particles (36) such as TLC grade silica and used to make chromatographic articles. One such article (32) is a composite of a poly(tetrafluoroethylene) fibril matrix (34) in which those particles and hydrated or fired silica flakes are enmeshed. The hydrated silica flakes can be fired to a refractory state and then incorporated into protective coatings to enhance their resistance to abrasion while also better protecting the coated substrates from corrosion.