How is porous Vycor glass produced from sodium borosilicate glass?

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Porous Vycor glass is produced through a phase-separation technique involving a sodium borosilicate melt. The process follows these steps:

Phase Separation: The melt is allowed to separate into two continuous, intertwined matrices: one rich in silica and the other rich in sodium borate.1
Leaching: The sodium borate-rich phase is dissolved using acid treatment.1
Result: This leaves behind a porous, 96 percent silica skeleton, often referred to as "thirsty" glass.1

This porous material can function as a molecular sieve, a catalytic support, or a time-release capsule. Additionally, it can be used to create glass-polymer composites or sintered into a dense form as a substitute for vitreous silica.1