Methyltriethoxysilane-derived sol-gel coatings doped with silver metal particles

Silica sol-gel films were prepared by dipping, starting from an acid catalyzed solution of methyltriethoxysilane (MTES) and tetraethoxysilane (TEOS). Silver metal nanoparticles were produced in the silica layer by introducing in the sol-gel precursor solution AgNO₃ or AgClO₄·H₂O. The silver ions were thermally reduced in air at 800°C, giving an intense yellow coating film. The silver metal particles were observed by transmission electron microscopy and X-ray diffraction. The diameter of the silver particles was found to be about 10 nm. Absorption measurements in the UV-Vis were used to evaluate the volume fraction of silver colloids embedded in the silica layer.     

TEOS-MTES基SiO2溶胶微结构的SAXS研究

正硅酸乙酯(TEOS)为前驱体,在碱性条件下制备含有无定形SiO2颗粒的溶胶,以甲基三乙氧基硅烷(MTES)在酸性条件下获得聚甲基硅氧链,二者混合后应用同步辐射X射线进行混合溶胶的SAXS散射强度测定,计算了溶胶的平均回转半径、平均粒径、两相界面层厚度、散射体体积分数、两相间比表面积等参数,辅以光子相关光谱法(PCS)和透射电子显微镜(TEM)观测溶胶粒度,证实SiO2颗粒被MTES混合物连接成族团.实验发现所测混合溶胶样品均表现出对Porod定理的负偏离,说明溶胶中颗粒与溶剂之间存在很明显的两相间界面层.     

超疏水聚硅氧烷涂层的制备及其性能

采用溶胶-凝胶法,以甲基三乙氧基硅烷(MTES)为有机硅前驱体,通过酸-碱催化水解-缩合得到聚有机硅氧烷凝胶,经浸涂-提拉成膜技术在玻璃表面制备超疏水聚硅氧烷涂层。通过红外光谱(FT-IR)、水接触角(WCA)和场发射扫描电子显微镜(FE-SEM)等分析技术对涂层进行了结构表征、疏水性测试和表面形貌观察。结果表明,涂层内部形成带有甲基和残余硅羟基基团的网络结构。当n(MTES)∶n(EtOH)∶n(H2O)分别为1∶35∶8和1∶45∶8时,在室温制备的涂层对水的接触角可分别高达160°和162°,滚动角均低至7°,并且涂层在250℃以下的热处理过程中,其疏水性基本保持不变。FE-SEM观察证实了涂层表面分布着许多孔径为0.5～1.0μm的微孔和粒径为50～100 nm的纳米颗粒聚集体,具有微-纳米尺寸相结合的双重结构。此外涂层还具有较高的透明性、对腐蚀性液体具有超疏水性。研制得到的超疏水涂层有望用于玻璃、织物、金属和塑料等基底表面作为保护和防腐蚀涂膜。     

Hydrolysis and Solvolysis of Methyltriethoxysilane Catalyzed with HCl or Trifluoroacetic Acid: IR Spectroscopic and Surface Energy Studies

The aim of this study was, at first, to re-consider the IR spectra of methyltriethoxysilane (MTEOS) catalysed with HCl (hydrolysis) and to compare them with IR spectra of MTEOS catalysed with trifluoroacetic acid (TFAcOH). TFAcOH as a strong carboxylic acid performs non-hydrolytic sol-gel process based on the condensation between the alkoxide and the acid function, liberating ester molecules (solvolysis). We assessed from the time-dependent IR attenuated reflection spectroscopic (IR ATR) measurements the solvolysis and hydrolysis reactions, formation of the oligomeric species and final condensation products. Additional evidence for the formation of these species was obtained from the spectra of films dip-coated from sols aged to different extent. The results of the IR spectral analysis showed that the structure of both xerogels consisted of irregular T_n (n = 8, 10, 12) cube-like species bridged via the ladder-like oligomers (in the case of MTEOS/TFAcOH) and open-chain trisiloxane species (for MTEOS/HCl). ²⁹Si NMR spectra of MTEOS/TFAcOH showed only signals of T³ while MTEOS/HCl spectra showed beside T³ also T² signals, in agreement with IR spectra results. From the XRD peaks at low Bragg angles (∼ 9–10°) we inferred that both xerogels consisted of nanocrystalline CH₃-SiO_3/2 species. In addition, the surface energy values of the films deposited from the corresponding sols were measured and the dispersive and polar portions correlated with the spectral features noted in the films.     

Coating of Methyltriethoxysilane—Modified Colloidal Silica on Polymer Substrates for Abrasion Resistance

Organic-inorganic hybrid composites were prepared by the sol-gel method for the hard coating agent of transparent plastic, and their abrasion resistance, optical and surface characteristics were evaluated. Methyltriethoxy-silane (MTES) and colloidal silica were used as starting materials. The addition of MTES to colloidal silica enabled the formation of dense thin films with very smooth surface on the substrates. The thin films were strongly adhered to the substrates without primer treatment. The abrasion resistance increased with the increase in the ratio of MTES to the colloidal silica. Optimal amount of MTES for the hard coating agent was 100 wt% to the colloidal silica. The addition of curing catalyst, tetramethylammonium formate was found to be very effective to enhance the adhesion strength of coating agent to the substrates and reduced curing time.     

Near-Infrared Spectroscopic Study for the Sol-Gel Reaction Using Alkoxysilanes

Near-Infrared spectroscopic studies on varying water contents in the sol-gel system using methyltriethoxysilane and tetraethoxysilane were performed. Water and silanol were clearly distinguished from alcoholic OH groups in the spectra. The change of water and silanol contents in acetone or 2-butanone was larger than those in alcoholic solvents. ¹H nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopic measurement showed that hydrolysis and condensation reaction in methanol is faster than those in 2-butanone.     

Preparation of coating films doped with gold metal particles from methyltriethoxysilane-tetraethoxysilane solutions

Silica coating films of 0.5–0.7 m in thickness doped with gold metal particles were prepared by heating gel coating films obtained from solutions of acid-catalyzed methyltriethoxysilane (MTES) and tetraethoxysilane (TEOS) mixture containing chlorauric acid tetrahydrate. Transparent coating films with deep blue, red, and purple colors were obtained. Changes in size and shape of the gold particles with the MTES content were observed. Lower MTES contents gave bigger and non-spherical particles, while higher MTES contents produced smaller and more spherical particles with a more uniform size distribution. The effect of heat-treatment temeprature on the shape, size, and size distribution of the metallic gold particles was also studied.On leave from Dipartimento di Ingegneria Meccanica, Sezione Materiali, Universita di Padova, Via Marzolo, 9-35131 Padova, Italy.     

Structure and properties of sol-gel coatings from methyltriethoxysilane and tetraethoxysilane

Acid catalyzed solutions of methyltriethoxysilane (MTES) and tetraethoxysilane (TEOS) were used to obtain bulk materials and silica coatings of about 2 m, after densification at 500°C. The structural evolution as a function of MTES content and heat treatment was studied.A higher content of MTES was found to enhance the maximum thickness of the coatings free of cracks. Critical thickness and shrinkage of the films were measured. MTES was also found to affect porosity and to play an important role in avoiding fractures in the films.