Tetramethyl orthosilicate

• Tetramethylorthosilicate
• Silicic acid tetramethyl ester
• Methyl silicate
• TMOS

Colorless liquid

Liquid

1.03 g · cm -3

-2 ° C

122 ° C.

18 hPa at 20 ° C.

Decomposition in water

1.3683 (20 ° C)

Risk

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Tetramethyl (including tetramethoxysilane, methyl silicate, or silicic acid tetramethyl ester, short TMOS) is a colorless liquid.

Production and representation

Tetramethyl can be obtained by reacting silicon tetrachloride with methanol.

Properties

With water tetramethyl slowly hydrolyzed to ortho silicic acid and methanol:

TMOS is flammable and toxic. Explosive vapor mixtures may form at temperatures from 26 ° C.

Use

It is used in sol-gel processes, as the silica precursor to the preparation of gels, especially silica aerogels. In water, the compound is poorly soluble; an alcohol as a reaction medium is therefore often used as a solubilizer.

Safety

The contact of tetramethyl with skin can cause redness and pain. Upon contact with the vapors may cause irritation and redness in the eyes. Inhalation causes a burning sensation, sore throat and cough and can cause pulmonary edema, and renal and liver can be damaged. Ingestion may cause gastrointestinal pain. Risk of blindness by inhalation (sets in blood methanol -free).

The vapors of tetramethyl orthosilicate can form (26 ° C, ignition temperature 240 ° C flash point) with air to form an explosive mixture.