Trimethoxyboroxine as an ‘oxygen-transfer’ reagent: a non-aqueous ‘sol–gel’ route to alkali-free borosilicate glass
Abstract
A synthesis of alkali-free borosilicate gel from Si(OEt)4 and (MeO)3B3O3 in non-aqueous solvents is reported; the formation of the gel proceeds via rapid transesterification/oxygen transfer with elimination of B(OR)3; removal of volatiles from the gel, followed by drying (60 oC, 12 h) and furnacing in air (600 oC, 20 min) resulted in alkali-free borosilicate glass.