Ethyl silicate, the common name for tetra ethyl ortho silicate (TEOS), has found
worldwide acceptance in applications when a liquid precursor of silica (SiO2) is
needed. When properly hydrolyzed, ethyl silicate produces very fine particles of
silica which can act as a binder to adhere refractories into ceramic shapes or
provide corrosion-resistant coatings in combination with zinc dust. When
vaporized and thermally decomposed upon the surfaces of semiconductor chips
ethyl silicate forms electrically insulating layers of silica glass which are
necessary in the fabrication of integrated circuits. The chemical applications for
ethyl silicate, including cross-linking of silicones, are numerous and new
applications for this versatile chemical are constantly being developed. The
information presented here is intended as an aid to tailoring ethyl silicate
products to your own end use.