The Kinetics of the Polymerization of Silicic Acid

Abstract

Abstract The process of the polymerization of silicic acid can be divided into three steps: (1) a reaction between monosilicic acids, (2) a reaction between monosilicic and polysilicic acids, and (3) a reaction between polysilicic acids. The rates of the reactions between monomer-monomer, monomer-polymer and polymer-polymer are most rapid at pH values around 9.3, 8.5, and 6.8 respectively. It is concluded that, above about pH 4, the polymerization due to Reactions 1, 2, and 3 proceeds mainly by a reaction between ionized and un-ionized silanol groups.