Sol-gel technology is an important route for the fabrication of inorganic and inorganic-organic composite materials. As is typical of chemical synthesis routes, a wide range of parameters can be used to tailor the product. To exploit sol-gel materials for commercial use, the ad vantages of components made this way have to be realized as mere substitution of sol-gel matrials will not usually repay the large development costs. Once relaized, the sol-gel process becomes a valuable tool for product and process innovation. This text treats sol-gel production from a variety of viewpoints, and is an example of how interdisciplinary research, development and technology can lead to innovation in industry.

Table of Contents:
Sol-Gel Production of Silica Microparticles Synthesis of Zircon-Based Ceramic Pigments via Sol-Gel Methods Sol-Gel Ceramic Pigments Characterization of Oxide Layers Deposited by Sol-Gel Mechanical Precision in Sol-Gel Manufacturing of 3-D Components On the Thermal and Photochemical Stabilities of Photochromic Spirooxazine Dyes Encapsulated in Ormocer Matrices Derived by Sol-Gel Processing Sol-Gel Coatings on Large Glass Substrates for Multilayer Interference Systems A SiO2-ZrO2 Gel Film Doped with Organic Pigments Made by the Sol-Gel Method for Contrast Enhancement of Color Picture Tubes Sol-Gel-Derived Coatings on Steel Sheets Preparation of High Sinterable Ba(Mg1/3Ta2/3)O3 Powders by Hydrolysis of Metal Alkoxides Development of HUD Combiner for Automotive Windshield Application Optical Disk Substrate Fabricated by the Sol-Gel Method Preparation of Lithium Chloroboracite from Alkoxides Local Repairing of Lining Glass Layer by the Alumina Powder Composite Sol-Gel Method Flat Ceramic Ultrafiltration Membranes and Modules Coated by the Sol-Gel Technique Emerging Applications of Sol-Gel Technology Sol-Gel Optical Fiber Preforms Production of Dispersible Aluminas and Their Use in Different Applications Sol-Gel Applications for Membranes Development of Wet Chemical Processing in Nippon Sheet Glass Commercial Development of Sol-Gel Technology in Australia Novel Corrosion Resistant Hard-Coatings for Metal Surfaces Characterization of Aluminium Phosphate Gel Advanced Manufacturing Process for ZnO Surge Arrester Disks Preparation and Properties of Poly(Vinyl Acetate)/Silica-Gel Hybrids Obtained by Sol-Gel Process: Effect of Methyl Groups in Silicon Alkoxide