Optimization of process parameters for the synthesis of silica gel-WC nanocomposite by design of experiment

The optimum combination of experimental variables—composition of the gel matrix, temperature, time of heat treatment under nitrogen atmosphere and percentage excess dextrose has been delineated to find the maximum yield of nanophase WC in the silica gel matrix. The size of WC in the silica gel is found to be 23 nm. A statistically adequate regression equation, for a significance level of 0.05, has been developed by carrying out a set of active experiments within the framework of design of experiment. The regression equation clearly indicates the beneficial role of temperature, time of heat treatment and percentage excess dextrose and the detrimental role of excess alcohol.