Hydrolysis and polycondensation of ethyl silicates. 1. Effect of pH and catalyst on the hydrolysis and polycondensation of tetraethoxysilane (TEOS)

The effect of pH and of catalysts on the course of the hydrolysis and condensation of tetraethoxysilane (TEOS) in water—ethanol solution was studied with the aid of chromatography, potentiometry and gelation tests. Strong acids (HCl, HClO₄, HNO₃, H₂SO₄, p-toluenesulphonic acid), weak acids (Cl₃CCOOH, (COOH)₂, ClCH₂COOH, CH₃COOH, HCOOH) and LiOH were used as catalysts. The rate of hydrolysis depended on the pH of the solution and not on the chemical structure of the catalyst. The hydrolysis was both acid and base catalysed and its rate was at a minimum at pH 7.0.

The rate of condensation of the reaction products of the hydrolysis of TEOS (water—ethanol solutions of ethoxyhydroxysiloxanes) was at a minimum at a pH of about 2.0. The condensation was both acid and base catalysed and was markedly accelerated by both HF and H₃PO₄.