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 5 h.