Tetraethyl silane (Tetraethyl Orthosilicate), also known as ethyl orthosilicate, has a wide range of uses. In the field of material preparation, it is often used as a raw material for the preparation of silica and various silicate materials. Through hydrolysis and polycondensation reactions, silica sol or gel can be formed. After subsequent treatment, different forms of silica materials can be obtained from this gel, such as aerogels, films, etc. Aerogels have very low density and excellent thermal insulation properties, and are widely used in aerospace, building insulation, etc. Thin film materials are often used in optical coatings, semiconductor device insulation layers, etc. In the chemical industry, it is also an important intermediate for the synthesis of silicone compounds. By reacting with different reagents, siloxane groups can be introduced into the organic molecular structure, giving the product special properties, such as water resistance, wear resistance and chemical stability, etc., which can be used in the improvement of coatings, adhesives, plastics and other products. In the field of catalysis, tetraethoxysilane hydrolysis polycondensation products can be used as catalyst carriers. Its high specific surface area and good thermal stability can effectively load active components, improve catalyst dispersion and stability, and then enhance catalytic reaction efficiency and selectivity. In the field of cultural relics protection, the silica gel generated by the hydrolysis of tetraethoxysilane can penetrate into the interior of porous cultural relics materials, such as ancient building masonry, mural support, etc. After curing, it can enhance the mechanical strength of the material, improve its waterproof and weathering resistance, and achieve the purpose of long-term protection of cultural relics.

Tetraethyl silane (Tetraethyl Orthosilicate) is a kind of organosilicon compound. Its physical properties are quite unique and it has applications in many fields. Looking at its properties, under room temperature and pressure, tetraethoxysilane is a colorless and transparent liquid, and emits a slight ether-like odor. Although this odor is not strong, it is still clearly recognizable. Its boiling point is about 168.8 ° C. At this temperature, the liquid will transform into a gaseous state. The melting point is about -77 ° C. Below this temperature, it will condense into a solid state. Besides its density, at 20 ° C, the density is about 0.9356g/cm ³, which is slightly smaller than the density of water. This characteristic makes it appear different in some water-related operations. Its solubility is also worthy of attention. It can be miscible with various organic solvents such as ethanol, acetone, and benzene, but it is almost insoluble in water. This difference in solubility makes it play a specific role in organic synthesis and other fields. Tetraethoxysilane is highly volatile, because its boiling point is not very high, and the vapor pressure is relatively large. In an open environment, it is volatile into the air. Its flash point is 51.7 ° C. Under this temperature, it is easy to cause combustion when exposed to open flames and hot topics. Special attention should be paid to fire safety when using. This compound is widely used in coatings, adhesives, electronic materials and many other fields due to its unique physical properties. For example, in coatings, it can improve the hardness and wear resistance of coatings; in the field of electronic materials, in semiconductor manufacturing and other processes, it also plays an indispensable role.

Tetraethoxysilane, also known as ethyl orthosilicate, has unique chemical properties. This substance is a colorless and transparent liquid with an odor similar to ether. It can be miscible with ethanol and ether and slightly soluble in water. In terms of its chemical activity, tetraethoxysilane will hydrolyze in contact with water to form a hydrolysis product of ethyl silicate, which will gradually condensate into polysiloxane. The hydrolysis rate is influenced by many factors, such as temperature, pH value, and the presence or absence of a catalyst. The hydrolysis rate is accelerated when the temperature increases; in an acidic or alkaline environment, the hydrolysis rate is also faster than in a neutral environment. Under the action of an alkaline catalyst, the hydrolysis and polycondensation reactions are more rapid, and eventually a silicone polymer with a three-dimensional network structure is formed. In terms of thermal stability, tetraethoxysilane is quite stable under general conditions. However, when heated to a higher temperature, it decomposes to form silica and organic products. tetraethoxysilane can also participate in alcoholysis reactions, react with alcohols under specific conditions to form silane compounds with different alkoxy substitutions. At the same time, it can react with compounds containing active hydrogen, such as amines and carboxylic acids, thereby introducing different functional groups, and then expanding its application in the field of material synthesis. Due to these chemical properties, tetraethoxysilane has been widely used in many fields. In the coatings industry, as a film-forming substance, it can enhance the hardness and wear resistance of coatings; in the electronics field, it is used to prepare silica films to meet the needs of semiconductor manufacturing; in the preparation of high-performance ceramic materials, as a precursor, by controlling the hydrolysis and polycondensation processes, fine ceramic materials can be prepared.

There are various methods for the production of tetraethyl silane (Tetraethyl Orthosilicate). There are two common methods. One is the direct method. It is obtained by the direct reaction of silicon powder and ethanol under the action of a catalyst. The process is as follows: Pure silicon powder, suitable particle size, and anhydrous ethanol in a certain ratio, placed in a special reactor. An appropriate amount of catalyst is pre-added to the kettle, such as cuprous chloride, etc. Seal the reactor, heat up to a certain temperature, usually 150-200 ° C, and apply a certain pressure at the same time, about 2-3 MPa. Under this condition, the silicon powder reacts violently with ethanol, and the silicon atom and the ethoxyl group gradually combine to form tetraethoxysilane. After the reaction is completed, the unreacted raw materials and by-products can be removed by condensation, rectification and other processes to obtain high-purity tetraethoxysilane. The advantages of this method are simple process and easy availability of raw materials; however, there are also disadvantages. The reaction conditions are harsh, the equipment requirements are high, and the catalyst recovery and regeneration are more complicated. The second is an indirect method. First, silicon powder is reacted with hydrogen chloride gas to generate trichlorosilane. In this step, the silicon powder is fed into hydrogen chloride gas in a specific reactor and reacted at 250-300 ° C to generate trichlorosilane gas, which is collected by condensation. Then, trichlorosilane reacts with ethanol to generate tetraethoxysilane. This reaction is carried out in ethanol solution at room temperature and pressure or under slight pressure, and the chlorine atom of trichlorosilane is replaced by ethoxy group. After the reaction is completed, the tetraethoxysilane product is obtained after separation and purification. The advantage of this method is that the reaction conditions are relatively mild and the purity of the product is easy to control; but the process is long and the use of hydrogen chloride gas is dangerous, so the tail gas needs to be properly handled.

For tetraethyl silane (Tetraethyl Orthosilicate), many things need to be paid attention to when using it. The first priority is safety. This substance is toxic and irritating. When handling, you must wear appropriate protective equipment, such as protective clothing, gloves and goggles, to prevent it from contacting the skin and eyes. If you accidentally touch it, you should immediately rinse it with plenty of water and seek medical attention in time. The evaporated steam may be irritating to the respiratory tract, so the operating environment should be well ventilated or equipped with effective ventilation equipment to avoid damage to the body due to inhalation of steam. Furthermore, it is related to storage. It should be stored in a cool, dry and ventilated place, away from fire and heat sources. Because it is flammable, it can cause combustion and explosion in case of open flame or hot topic, so fireworks are strictly prohibited in the storage place. At the same time, it needs to be stored separately from oxidants, acids, etc., and should not be mixed to prevent dangerous chemical reactions. The use process is also exquisite. When preparing the solution, it is necessary to precisely control its concentration and ratio, according to the specific requirements of the experiment or production. Because of its hydrolysis characteristics, it is easy to hydrolyze into silicic acid in a humid environment, so the operation should be carried out in a dry environment, and the exposure time to air should be shortened as much as possible. The stirring process should be gentle to avoid severe agitation causing its volatilization to intensify or produce unnecessary reactions. When taking this substance, the measuring tool must be clean and dry to ensure the accuracy of the measurement. After use, the remaining material should be properly sealed to prevent it from deteriorating or evaporating. During operation, it is also necessary to pay close attention to the reaction phenomenon. If there is any abnormality, immediately stop the operation to identify the cause to ensure the safety and effectiveness of the use process.