Composites Based on Triethylammonium Dodecahydro-closo-Dodecaborate ((Et3NH)2[B12H12]) and Sodium Silicate Water Glass

The [B12H12](2-) anion, a three-dimensional aromatic system with a uniform electron density distribution over its boron skeleton, has been shown to react with sodium silicate water glass (WG) to form a supramolecular structure. The WG/[B12H12](2-) system has both short-range and weaker, long-range contacts, which influences the chemistry of the thermolysis process and, as a consequence, the thermal and thermomechanical properties of the composites. At 60% (Et3NH)(2)[B12H12] in the starting mixture, the reaction products contain similar to 6.6% [B12H11NEt3](-2) , a substituted derivative that has a plasticizing effect in the case of thermomechanical processing. At an optimal ratio of the starting reagents, the thermo-oxidative stability of the [B12H12](2-) anion and the deformation resistance of the WG/[B12H12](2-) system persist up to 600 degrees C.