Orthosilicates

SiSiB is worldwide leading manufacturer of organosilanes for over 30 years. Orthosilicates are derivatives of orthosilicic acid Si(OH)4. The most common is tetraethyl orthosilicate, often called TEOS or tetraethoxysilane, ethyl silicate 28. It is commonly used as binders for inorganic zinc-rich coatings, casting molds, cores, ceramic shapes and coatings.

Ethyl silicate is the common name for tetraethyl orthosilicate (TEOS). When properly hydrolyzed, ethyl silicate will produce very fine silica particles.

The complete hydrolysis of ethyl silicate will produce silicon and ethanol. Partially hydrolyzed ethyl silicate provides products with higher silica content. 40% hydrolyzate is the most popular option. SiSiB® PC5424, ethyl silicate 40, is a mixture of oligomers with an average molecular weight of about 800. The most common measure of performance of pre-hydrolyzed TEOS is the gel time. SiSiB offers tailored products with different gel time according to customer requirement.

SiSiB® PC5420 (ethyl silicate 28) and SiSiB® PC5424 (ethyl silicate 40) are used as binders in precision investment casting. Investment casting methods using ethyl silicate include lost wax method and Shaw method. SiSiB® PC5424 (Ethyl silicate 40) is used to combine with the zinc powder in zinc-rich paint.

Ethyl silicate by SiSiB, a reliable silicone supplier, is also used as a crosslinking agent for silicone rubber (RTV).

Besides ethyl silicate, SiSiB also supplies SiSiB® PC5430 tetrapropyl orthosilicate (also called as tetrapropoxysilane, TPOS), and SiSiB® PC5410 tetramethyl orthosilicate (Tetramethoxysilane, TMOS).