PREPARATION OF STABLE METAL OXIDE SOLS, OF USE IN PARTICULAR FOR THE MANUFACTURE OF THIN FILMS HAVING OPTICAL AND ABRASION-RESISTANT PROPERTIES

摘要

The invention relates to a method for preparing sols of metal oxides, with an aqueous component, which are stable over time and which notably allow the making of thin films having both remarkable optical and abrasion resistance properties. This method comprises: (i) replacing with water all or part of the alcohol or of the alcohols present in an alcoholic sol of a metal oxide, with a neutral or basic pH, and optionally (ii) adjusting the pH of the thereby obtained aqueous or partly aqueous sol to a value of at least 8. The invention also relates to a method for making films from these sols and, in particular, thin films with optical properties and resistant to abrasion. Applications: making optical components for power lasers, making optical fibers, cathodic tubes, etc.