Modification and characterisation of pre-hydrolysed silanes by acrylate utilizing sol–gel process

• The work emphasised on synthesis of hybrids using pre-hydrolysed silane and acrylate monomer by using two step in situ process.
• Vinyl trimethoxy silane and methacryloxy propyltrimethoxy silane was pre-hydrolysed by acid catalysed method and then reacted with butyl acrylate in presence of benzoyl peroxide as a catalyst.
• Different mole ratios Sol: acrylate namely 1:1, 1:2 and 1:3 were employed for the synthesis of hybrids.
• The obtained sol and hybrids were coated onto the mild steel panel and the properties of the obtained coatings were employed for comparative studies between all the systems.
• Sol–acrylate hybrid is used for metal coating to reduce problem like corrosion by imparting water-repellency along with corrosion inhibition maintaining excellent mechanical properties.
• This formulated transparent coating can be used to coat even intricate and complex shaped articles with coating thickness of 28–30 μm.

The paper focuses on development of inorganic–organic hybrid coatings synthesised by pre-hydrolysed sol of Vinyl trimethoxy silane (VTMS) and Methacryloxy propyl trimethoxy silane (MPTMS), which were modified at different mole ratios by butyl acrylate. The formed sols and hybrids were characterised by using Fourier Transform Infrared Spectrophotometer FTIR, Gel Permeation Chromatography (GPC) and Thermogravimetric Analysis (TGA) while the coatings formed using the hybrid resins were evaluated for their physical and chemical resistance using ASTM standards. The obtained results were used for comparing the two hybrid systems of VTMS and MPTMS sol synthesised by modification with butyl acrylate.