Analysis of the 3-Glycidoxypropyltrimethoxysilane (GPTMS) hydrolysis by infrared spectroscopy

The study of silanes and polymers with special functions is increasing and the development of materials from silane-based polymers follows this trend. In this way, the hydrolysis of 3-Glycidoxypropyltrimethoxysilane (GPTMS) was studied as a function of the hydrolysis time in solutions with 50% of alcoholic solvents by infrared spectroscopy. It was verified that it was possible to analyze qualitatively and quantitatively the chemical reactions involving the hydrolysis / condensation of GPTMS and the main kinetics variations during the process. The results suggest that up to 30 minutes of hydrolysis, the predominant reactions are hydrolysis of the alkoxy groups, with the generation of the Si-OH groups and alcohol, in this case methanol. From 30 minutes, there is a large amount of silanols in the solution that tend to condense and form siloxane groups, which has this reaction accelerated from 60 minutes. Already, from 70-80 minutes, the reactions tend to decrease the kinetics, due to the absence of silanols and the hydrolysis / condensation process.