Molding die, sol-gel composition produced using the die, and process for producing sol-gel composition

Abstract

A molding die having satisfactory releasability, a sol-gel composition produced using the molding die, and a process for producing a sol-gel composition. The molding die which is to be pressed against a sol-gel material for producing a sol-gel composition has a release film, e.g., a thin gold (Au) film, formed on the molding surface of the molding die through a buffer layer made of metals and/or inorganic oxides.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . A molding die to be pressed against a sol-gel material for producing a sol-gel composition, said molding die having a release film formed on the molding surface thereof to be brought into contact with the sol-gel material.  
     
     
         2 . The molding die as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the release film is made of a material comprising one member selected from the group consisting of gold (Au), platinum (Pt), copper (Cu), palladium (Pd), silver (Ag), nickel (Ni) and alloys of two or more thereof.  
     
     
         3 . The molding die as claimed in  claim 1 , which has a substrate for the release film, said substrate being made of a material comprising one member selected from the group consisting of resins, glasses, metals and a combination of two or more thereof bonded to each other.  
     
     
         4 . The molding die as claimed in  claim 3 , which has a buffer layer made of one or more metals and/or one or more inorganic oxides between the substrate and the release film.  
     
     
         5 . The molding die as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the surface of the release film has recesses.  
     
     
         6 . A sol-gel composition molded by pressing the molding die as claimed in  claim 1  against a sol-gel material.  
     
     
         7 . A process for producing a sol-gel composition which comprises using the sol-gel composition of  claim 6  as a molding die for molding a sol-gel material.  
     
     
         8 . The process for producing a sol-gel composition as claimed in  claim 7 , wherein the sol-gel composition used as a molding die has functional groups which are releasable from the sol-gel material.