Term: Sol–Gel Coating

Category: Coating Method

Definition: The sol-gel technique is a flexible way of creating thin coatings on surfaces via a chemical reaction. A colloidal solution, or “sol,” is created by starting with either an alkoxide or an inorganic salt and applying it to the surface of an object using product application methods like spraying, dipping, and spinning. The sol then undergoes hydrolysis and condensation to form crosslinks that create a 3D framework in which the sol binds to the object being coated. This procedure produces a thin film of coating material. Sol-gel coatings offer a high degree of flexibility in controlling the coating’s chemical make-up, coating thickness, porosity, and surface properties, and, therefore, are suitable for a variety of uses in functional, protective, and bioengineering applications.

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