摘要 |
<p>Shaped and fired, porous or impermeable nonvitreous ceramic microcapsules of metal oxide, preferably transparent and polycrystalline, are made by a non-melt process comprising the liquid-liquid extraction of aqueous metal oxide precursor with a dehydrating liquid having a limited water solubility, and drying and firing the resulting gelled microcapsules. For example, and aqueous titania sol is added to an agitated body of n-butanol to form a dispersion of droplets of said sol and water is rapidly extracted from the droplets to form gelled microcapsules; the latter are recovered by filtration, dried, and fired to convert them into transparent, sealed or heat-sealable, non-vitreous ceramic, spherical microcapsules of polycrystalline titania. The microcapsules can be used as fillers for plastic and other composites or filled with a selected solid, liquid or gas for purpose of storing, transporting, or facilitating the use of the same.</p> |