Hydrolysis and polycondensation of acid-catalyzed phenyltriethoxysilane (PhTES)

The effects of acid catalyst, water content and reaction temperature on the hydrolysis and polycondensation of phenyltriethoxysilane (PhTES) were studied using Si-29 NMR spectroscopy. The sol catalyzed by hydrochloric acid showed the simultaneous progress of hydrolysis and polycondensation. In addition, the reaction rate was almost independent of reaction temperature. On the other hand, the polycondensation in the PhTES-derived sol mixed with an excess amount of water and acetic acid as a catalyst proceeded after completion of the hydrolysis. In the acetic acid-catalyzed system, the degree of the hydrolysis and polycondensation largely depends on the reaction temperature.