Orthosilicate Core Definition

1. Chemical properties: TEOS is a colorless liquid that is volatile at room temperature. It can react with water to produce silicon dioxide and ethanol. Under appropriate conditions, it can form silicon dioxide films or blocks by hydrothermal or sol-gel methods.

2. Ethyl orthosilicate is stable in the air, but it will gradually decompose under the action of ultraviolet rays. Ethyl orthosilicate has good solubility and solubility. Because it has low surface tension, it can be used as an additive in coatings and adhesives to improve the uniformity and adhesion of the coating. It can also be used as a catalyst and reagent in organic synthesis and has important application value. It should be noted that ethyl orthosilicate has a pungent odor and may irritate the eyes, skin and respiratory system. Wear appropriate protective equipment during use and maintain a well-ventilated working environment.

Application of Tetraethyl Orthosilicate Gas

• Electronics and Semiconductors:

When TEOS is used in semiconductor processes, it is mainly used as a precursor for silicon dioxide thin films. The following is a detailed introduction to TEOS in semiconductor processes:

1. Chemical vapor deposition (CVD): CVD is a commonly used deposition technique for forming thin films on the surface of a substrate. In semiconductor processes, TEOS can be used as one of the precursors for the CVD process. During the CVD process, TEOS reacts with oxygen or other gases (such as nitrogen or argon) at high temperatures to produce silicon dioxide and release ethanol and other byproducts. This reaction can be carried out in a vacuum chamber or a gas phase reaction chamber to control the composition, thickness and uniformity of the film.

2. Sol-gel method: In addition to CVD, TEOS can also be used to prepare silicon dioxide thin films by the sol-gel method. In this method, a TEOS solution is mixed with other solvents and surfactants to form a sol. Subsequently, the sol is coated on the surface of the substrate by an appropriate method (such as spin coating or dipping) and gelled under heating or hydrothermal conditions to form a silicon dioxide film. This method is often used in smaller-scale production and research laboratories.

3. Application areas: Silicon dioxide films deposited by TEOS have a wide range of applications in semiconductor processes, such as as insulating layers, filling materials, isolation layers, and protective layers. These films can improve the performance and stability of devices while protecting them from the external environment. Silicon dioxide films deposited by TEOS usually have good density, flatness, and chemical stability, and are suitable for the preparation of various semiconductor devices.

• New energy and environmental protection:

Coating and paint industry:

Ethyl orthosilicate is widely used in coatings and paints as a thickener, stabilizer and drying accelerator. It can improve the hardness, gloss and weather resistance of the coating, and has a positive effect on promoting the progress of environmental protection technology in the coating industry.

Glass industry:

Ethyl orthosilicate can be used to produce various types of glass products, such as optical glass, architectural glass and electronic glass. It can improve the strength, toughness and heat resistance of glass, which is of great significance to improving the product quality and environmental protection performance of the glass industry.

• Environmental protection technology innovation:

The production process of ethyl orthosilicate is constantly being upgraded and improved. Many companies are exploring new synthesis routes and catalyst systems, such as bio-based ethyl orthosilicate, which uses renewable resources instead of traditional petroleum-based raw materials for production, which can effectively reduce environmental pressure and achieve a more sustainable development model.

Application comparison table

Innovative Applications of Materials Science

• Biomedicine:

Targeted delivery of anticancer drugs by silica nanoparticles (drug loading rate ≥ 80%)

Calcium silicate bone cement (compressive strength 45MPa) for orthopedic repair

• Preparation of silica materials

TEOS is an important precursor for the preparation of silica (SiO2) materials, especially as a precursor in the sol-gel process. By controlling the hydrolysis and condensation process of TEOS, the porosity, pore size distribution and mechanical strength of the aerogel can be regulated, which is crucial for the preparation of high-performance aerogel materials.

• Production of polyethyl silicate

The partial hydrolysis and polycondensation reaction of TEOS produces polyethyl silicate (TEOS-28, i.e. Si(OC2H5)4). Polyethyl silicate is widely used in electrical insulation materials, optical glass treatment agents, precision casting adhesives and other fields due to its excellent thermal and chemical stability.

• Inorganic zinc-rich coatings

TEOS plays a key role in inorganic zinc-rich coatings. The ethoxy groups in its molecular structure absorb water after spraying, undergo hydrolysis reaction, and form siloxane polymers, which build a solid film-forming foundation for the coating. This coating is widely used in shipbuilding, petrochemicals, offshore facilities and other fields to provide effective corrosion protection.

Application in the foundry industry

In precision casting, TEOS hydrolyzate is used to treat refractory materials for the treatment of foundry sand. The treated sand can form a smooth coating that can withstand high temperatures during the casting process, improving the surface quality and dimensional accuracy of the casting.

RTV silicone rubber

In the preparation of RTV (room temperature vulcanized) silicone rubber, TEOS acts as a crosslinking agent to react with the active hydroxyl groups at the ends of the rubber molecular chains to construct a three-dimensional network structure and improve the physical and mechanical properties of silicone rubber, such as tensile strength, relative elongation and tear strength.

Supply Chain and Market Trends

The operating trend of China’s ethyl orthosilicate market is expected to maintain strong growth from 2025 to 2030. With the rapid development of the economy and the acceleration of the industrialization process, the market demand for ethyl orthosilicate, as the basic raw material for the production of silicone products, is growing. According to statistics, the scale of China’s ethyl orthosilicate market has continued to expand in recent years, especially in the construction, transportation, electronics and textile industries. The application is becoming more and more extensive, which has promoted the rapid growth of the market scale. It is expected that by 2030, the scale of China’s ethyl orthosilicate market will reach a new height, and the annual compound growth rate will remain stable. In terms of technology, China’s ethyl orthosilicate industry has made significant progress, especially in improving production efficiency, optimizing production processes and expanding the scope of application. In the future, more innovative results will be applied to actual production. In terms of policy environment, the government encourages technological innovation and industrial upgrading through subsidies and tax incentives, while strengthening the formulation of industry standards and gradually standardizing market order. In terms of market demand, the rapid development of high-tech industries such as new energy materials and electronic chemicals will become the main driving force. In addition, with the improvement of environmental awareness and the improvement of industry standards, consumers have increasingly stringent requirements for the quality, purity and safety of tetraethyl orthosilicate, prompting companies to increase their R&D efforts to provide high-performance, low-energy products.

Global market size (estimated to reach US$1.5 billion in 2025, CAGR 6%)

China’s production capacity distribution: Jiangsu/Hubei industrial clusters (accounting for 65% of global supply)

Supplier ecology:

International brands (Sigma-Aldrich 99.999% electronic grade TEOS)

Local companies (Jianghan New Materials Industrial Grade TEOS 190kg/¥14,000)

Key driving factors: Surge in demand for semiconductor manufacturing, photovoltaic materials, and aerogel technology

China’s local production capacity accounted for 80%, with significant price competitiveness

Safety regulations

• Hazard category

It belongs to Class 3.3 high flash point liquid, which is flammable. Its vapor can form an explosive mixture when mixed with air1.

• First aid measures

Skin contact: Take off contaminated clothing immediately and rinse the skin thoroughly with soap and water123.

Eye contact: Lift the eyelids, rinse with running water or saline, and seek medical attention123.

Inhalation: Move quickly to fresh air, keep the airway open, give oxygen or artificial respiration if necessary, and seek medical attention

Operation and storage:

The operation should be carried out in a closed environment with full ventilation. Operators must undergo special training and strictly abide by the operating procedures.

It is recommended that operators wear gas masks, chemical safety glasses, anti-static work clothes, and rubber oil-resistant gloves.

Store in a cool, dry, well-ventilated warehouse, away from fire and heat sources, and should be stored separately from oxidants, acids, and alkalis.

Contact control/personal protection:

When the concentration in the air exceeds the standard, a gas mask should be worn, and smoking is strictly prohibited in the workplace.

Equipped with safe showers and eyewash equipment, shower and change clothes after work, and pay attention to personal hygiene.

Supplier classification and comparison

Some well-known international suppliers​Evonik’s core advantage is that it has a global market share of about 25%, focusing on high-purity electronic-grade TEOS (purity ≥ 99.999%), which is used in semiconductor CVD processes (3nm chips) and photovoltaic glass coatings. Wacker’s market position: about 20% global share, focusing on industrial-grade products (purity 98%-99%), used in coatings, ceramic binders and precision casting.

As a supplier of tetraethyl orthosilicate gas, we have ultra-high purity technical barriers, product purity of 99.999999% (8N), metal impurities (such as aluminum, nickel) content ≤ 0.1ppb, meeting the semiconductor 3nm process for CVD silicon dioxide film step coverage of ＞ 95%. Customized packaging and stability, providing 2KG/barrel electronic-grade special packaging, supporting inert gas protection and humidity monitoring system to ensure that the hydrolysis rate is less than 0.01% during transportation. Semiconductor process adaptability, supports all APCVD/LPCVD/PECVD process types, has excellent compatibility with gases such as O₂/O₃, and can generate uniform SiO₂ films (thickness error <1nm). Supply chain and technical support, monthly production capacity of 5000KG, supports 48-hour emergency delivery, and provides CVD process parameter optimization solutions.

​​

Technical parameters and selection points

Purity classification: industrial grade (≥98%), electronic grade (≥99.999%)

Key indicators: free chlorine content (<50ppm), hydrolysis stability (PECVD process adaptability)

Packing specifications: from 100ml laboratory packaging to 50-ton tank truck transportation solutions

Industry application scenarios and procurement strategies

• Semiconductor manufacturing:

TSMC 3nm process verification, step coverage>95%

Recommended electronic grade TEOS (such as Sigma-Aldrich 8.00658 series)

• New energy materials:

Aerogel synthesis (Jianghan JH-T28, customized 32% SiO2 content)

• Coatings and adhesives:

Corrosion-resistant epoxy resin modification (purity ≥99%, packaging needs to be moisture-proof)

​

Quality verification and risk avoidance

• Purity detection

Use gas chromatography to process the spectrum by area normalization method to quickly and accurately determine the content of each component1.

Use high performance liquid chromatography, using ultraviolet or differential detectors, to analyze the impurity content and ensure product purity1.

• Physical property detection

Detect physical properties such as boiling point, density, refractive index, etc., compare with standard values, and verify product quality234.

• Chemical property detection

Perform hydrolysis reaction test to evaluate its reactivity and stability

Required inspection items: ICP-MS metal impurities, FTIR functional group analysis

Compliance documents: REACH/SDS certification, transportation qualification of hazardous chemicals (UN 1993)

Logistics and warehousing solutions

Maritime transport requirements: Class II dangerous goods, strictly follow relevant regulations during transportation, use special containers to prevent leakage and damage.

Storage conditions: Store in a cool, dry, ventilated warehouse, away from fire and heat sources, and ensure that it is stored separately from oxidants.

FAQ

• Ethyl orthosilicate smells like alcohol, has it gone bad?

Normal phenomenon: Pure TEOS contains trace amounts of ethanol (synthetic residue), and it is normal to have a slight smell of alcohol when the barrel is opened.

• The supplier claims “electronic grade 99.9%, how to quickly verify the authenticity?

Look at the barrel: the real electronic grade uses 316L stainless steel barrels, and the inner wall is mirror polished (the fake and inferior products use galvanized iron barrels);

Measure conductivity: take 5ml sample + 95ml anhydrous ethanol, conductivity ≤0.5μS/cm (exceeding the standard = containing metal ions);

Freeze crystal: refrigerate at -10℃ for 2 hours, floccules appear = water content exceeds the standard (electronic grade requires ≤50ppm).

• What is the best TEOS concentration in the concrete sealant formula?

Ordinary floor: 20% TEOS + 75% ethanol + 5% coupling agent (cost ￥15/㎡);

Nuclear power project: 40% TEOS + 55% isopropyl alcohol + 5% titanate (penetration depth＞8mm).

• TEOS hydrolysis is always not fast enough, can it be heated directly?

Dangerous operation! Heating over 60℃ will cause violent polymerization (instant solidification like cement).

• After TEOS was stored for half a year, there were crystals at the bottom of the barrel. Can it still be used?

White needle-shaped crystals: caused by ethanol volatilization, can be used after adding 5% fresh ethanol to dissolve;

Yellow oily substance: hydrolysis deterioration, can only be downgraded for architectural coatings (need to be filtered and impurities removed).