HYDROLYSIS AND CONDENSATION IN SYSTEMS OF SILICON ALKOXIDE AND HYDRATED CALCIUM AND NICKEL NITRATE IN ALCOHOLS AS FOLLOWED BY MEANS OF FOURIER-TRANSFORM INFRARED-SPECTROSCOPY

Hydrolysis and condensation reactions were investigated between tetram ethyl orthosilicate (TMOS) or tetraethyl orthosilicate (TEOS) and calc ium nitrate hydrate (Ca(NO3)(2) . 4H(2)O) or nickel nitrate hydrate (N i(NO3)(2) . 6H(2)O) in alcohols, methanol or ethanol. The reactions ha ve been followed by means of FTIR spectroscopy. It was found that the reaction between hydration water and TMOS (TEOS) was of second order. It was found that the rate of hydrolysis increased with increasing amo unt of hydration water. In the Ni system all reactions proceeded more readily. Comparison with literature values for the hydrolysis rate rev eal that dissolution of hydration water into the alcohol medium can pl ay a role at the highest hydration water contents.