The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Aug. 24, 1999
Filed:
Feb. 11, 1998
Gary Thomas Burns, Ohain, BE;
Qin Deng, Midland, MI (US);
James Richard Hahn, Midland, MI (US);
Clifford Carlton Reese, Midland, MI (US);
Dow Corning Corporation, Midland, MI (US);
Abstract
The present invention is hydrophobic silica gels having a reduced surface area and a method for their preparation under neutral conditions. The method comprises two steps, where in the first step the pH of a mixture comprising a silica hydrosol and colloidal silica is adjusted with a base to within a range of pH 3 to pH 6 to facilitate formation of a silica hydrogel having incorporated therein colloidal silica. In the second step the silica hydrogel is contacted with an organosilicon compound in the presence of a catalytic amount of a strong acid to effect hydrophobing of the silica hydrogel to form a hydrophobic silica gel having a surface area within a range of about 100 m.sup.2 /g to 450 m.sup.2 /g in the dry state. In a preferred process the hydrophobic silica gel is contacted with a sufficient quantity of a water-immiscible organic solvent to convert the hydrophobic silica hydrogel into a hydrophobic silica organogel. A water soluble compound of cerium or iron may be added during conduct of the second step to improve heat stability of the hydrophobic silica gel.