IR and NMR time-resolved studies on the hydrolysis and condensation of methacryloxyalkylsilanes

The sol-gel reactions of the two methacrylate-modified silanes methacryloxymethyltriethoxysilane (MAMTES) and methacryloxypropyltrimethoxysilane (MAPTMS) were followed by using two independent time-resolved spectroscopic methods, viz., IR ATR and NMR with the aim to optimise their pre-hydrolysis times and consequently their use as precursors for hybrid materials. Time resolved measurements were carried out on the two systems under sol-gel conditions. Whereas the hydrolysis of both siloxanes is very fast, condensation proceeds gradually and is not completely finished within 5h.