Effect of Processing Variables on the Solution Characteristics of γ-Glycidoxypropyltrimethoxysilane (γ-GPS)

The effects of the hydrolysis and condensation processes on the molecular structure of γ-glycidoxypropyltrimethoxysilane (γ-GPS) in aqueous solutions were investigated using Fourier-transform nuclear magnetic resonance (FT-NMR) spectroscopy and FT-Raman spectroscopy. Hydrolysis was characterized by monitoring the production of methanol and the decrease in concentration of SiOCH₃ groups in 1% solutions of deuterium oxide using proton NMR. The production of methanol and loss of methoxy groups in 25% solutions of γ-GPS in water was characterized using Raman spectroscopy. Hydrolysis was found to be a very rapid process, whose rate could be increased or decreased by altering the pH of the solution. NMR spectroscopy showed that hydrolysis was complete in a 1% γ-GPS solution in deuterium oxide after 34 minutes. Raman spectroscopy also showed hydrolysis to be rapid and complete in a 25% solution of γ-GPS in water after 1 hour. Condensation, on the other hand, took a relatively long time to occur. In the NMR spectra, condensation was observed by the broadening of peaks due to the protons on the carbon atom adjacent to the silicon atom. In the Raman spectra, condensation was characterized by the disappearance of the SiOH band near 725 cm^-1 and the development of an SiOSi band near 600 cm^-1. In addition to the proton NMR, Si-29 NMR was used to characterize the silane in 10% solutions of γ-GPS in water. The Si-29 NMR showed oligomer growth with respect to time. The oligomer growth was correlated with mechanical test results.