Influence of the nature of the R Group on the Hydrolysis and
Condensation Process of Trifunctional Silicon Alkoxides,
R-Si(OR')3
ABSTRACTThe hydrolysis and condensation reactions of three trifunctional silicon alkoxides, R-Si(OEt)3, with various R alkyl chains (R = CH3, C2H5, C8H17), was followed by 29Si and 1H Nuclear Magnetic Resonance. The condensation reactions are faster for methyltriethoxysilane and the degree of condensation of the system is higher. The other two systems have similar behaviors during the first hours, with lowest degree of condensation. The condensation reactions slow down for the octyltriethoxysilane, due to the presence of the long alkyl chains which prevent condensation reactions between oligomeric species. The influence of the addition of tetraethoxysilane (TEOS) was studied: for all three systems, the degree of condensation of the network is higher, indicating the role of cross-linking played by TEOS.