Process for fabricating silica article utilizing sol-gel extrusion

The invention is a sol-gel extrusion process which allows fabrication of both thick and thin wall tubes. For example, the process is capable of preparing silica overcladding tubes in a manner easier than sol-gel casting processes, and also capable of preparing relatively thin substrate tubes, which are difficult to cast. According to the invention, a silica dispersion containing a stabilizing agent is provided, a gelling agent is added to the dispersion to induce gellation, and the resultant gel is extruded into a silica body, in the substantial absence, i.e. less than 0.5%wt., of polymeric material from the gel. Substantially avoiding the inclusion of such polymeric material in overcladding and substrate tubes offers significant commercial advantages by reducing the time and energy required to remove organic materials from the tube bodies, by reducing environmental impact and by reducing the amount of impurities introduced in the tubes.