An alkoxide sol-gel route was developed to prepare stoichometric cordierite fibers. The influences of the aging treatment and heating rate on the sinterability of the gel fibers were also examined. X-ray diffraction analysis revealed that the unaged and aged fibrous gels all remained amorphous <800degreesC, but began crystallization into mu-cordierite and alpha-cordierite at similar to900degreesC and 1050degreesC, respectively; single-phase alpha-cordierite fibers were obtained at 1300degreesC. Heating the unaged fibers yielded denser microstructures, with fine grain sizes of similar to0.2-0.4 mum, whereas the aged fibers exhibited porous microstructures following heating at 1300degreesC. A higher heating rate and aging treatment resulted in a higher open porosity of the fired fiber.