Abstract: The invention relates to a method for the production of low solvent sol-gel systems, comprising the following steps: (a) hydrolysis or condensation of a silane and/or an alkoxide and/or several alkoxides of Al, Ce, Ga, Ge, Sn, Ti, Zr, Hf, V, Nb and Ta, (b) addition of water to the reaction mixture until phase separation sets in, and (c) separation of the condensate phase. The invention also relates to the sol-gel system thus obtained and to the use thereof.

Abstract: A method is described for producing a microstructured surface relief by applying to a substrate a coating composition which is thixotropic or which acquires thixotropic properties by pretreatment on the substrate, embossing the surface relief into the applied thixotropic coating composition with an embossing device, and curing the coating composition following removal of the embossing device. The substrates obtainable by this method, provided with a microstructured surface relief, are particularly suitable for optical, electronic, micromechanical and/or dirt repellency applications.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method for the production of low solvent sol-gel systems, comprising the following steps: (a) hydrolysis or condensation of a silane and/or an alkoxide and/or several alkoxides of Al, Ce, Ga, Ge, Sn, Ti, Zr, Hf, V, Nb and Ta, (b) addition of water to the reaction mixture until phase separation sets in, and (c) separation of the condensate phase. The invention also relates to the sol-gel system thus obtained and to the use thereof.

Abstract: A method is described for producing a microstructured surface relief by applying to a substrate a coating composition which is thixotropic or which acquires thixotropic properties by pretreatment on the substrate, embossing the surface relief into the applied thixotropic coating composition with an embossing device, and curing the coating composition following removal of the embossing device. The substrates obtainable by this method, provided with a microstructured surface relief, are particularly suitable for optical, electronic, micromechanical and/or dirt repellency applications.

Abstract: What is described is a method for producing a thermally shaped substrate coated with a sol-gel coating material, in which the sol-gel coating material comprises one or more hydrolyzable silanes, which may have been hydrolyzed to form a precondensate, and, if desired, a crosslinking agent, at least some of the hydrolyzable silanes containing on a non-hydrolyzable substituent a functional group by way of which crosslinking is possible, and in which A) the sol-gel coating material is applied to a thermally shapable substrate, B) the applied sol-gel coating material is partially precrosslinked and/or dried, C) the substrate coated with the sol-gel coating material is subsequently shaped thermally, and D) during and/or after the thermal shaping the sol-gel coating material is cured completely by means of thermal or photochemical crosslinking.