Principles of hydrolysis and condensation reaction of alkoxysilanes. - Part I: Basic investigations on hydrolysis, condensation and densification I

Abstract

Alkoxysilanes are used as starting materials for network formers in the sol-gel process. Substitution of an Si-O-bond by an Si-C-bond allows the introduction of organic radicals into a siliceous network. Since the hydrolysis and condensation reactions strongly effect the properties of the developed materials, it is necessary, in order to prepare specific materials, to understand the basic mechanisms of these reactions. Hydrolysis and condensation of alkoxysilanes have a long history and basic investigations with regard to mechanisms are carried out from very different points of view. Papers from different fields are reviewed and basic results of the co-condensation of ≡ Si-C-containing with non ≡ Si-C-containing silanes are reported.