Silica particles are normally prepared in an aqueous medium from the hydrolysis and condensation of alkoxysilanes, or condensation of silicic acid.  We have surprisingly discovered that the controlled synthesis of silica of several different morphologies is possible within silicone oil and silicone pre-elastomers.  The traditional precursor TEOS (Si(OEt)4) was combined with a templating agent such as PEG in the presence of moisture.  Key to the formation of silica was the use of a variety of amine catalysts rather than the tin catalysts more commonly used for elastomer synthesis.  Solid, hollow or meso-macroporous particles could be obtained by controlling the relative rate of silica formation vs crosslinking. Morphological control of both the silica particles and the silicone elastomers were particularly dependent on the rate of ingress of water.  The origins of the structure and the ability to control morphology of both silicone and silica using different silica precursors will be discussed.

Controlling the morphology of silica particles in non-aqueous silicone dispersions

243rd National Meeting (2012)

The official archive and repository for all ACS Meetings & Expositions abstracts and select posters or presentations.