Composites based on triethylammonium dodecahydro-closo-Dodecaborate ((Et3NH)2[B12H12]) and sodium silicate water glass

Abstract

The [B₁₂H₁₂]^2– anion, a three-dimensional aromatic system with a uniform electron density distribution over its boron skeleton, has been shown to react with sodium silicate water glass (WG) to form a supramolecular structure. The WG/[B₁₂H₁₂]^2– system has both short-range and weaker, long-range contacts, which influences the chemistry of the thermolysis process and, as a consequence, the thermal and thermomechanical properties of the composites. At 60% (Et₃NH)₂[B₁₂H₁₂] in the starting mixture, the reaction products contain ~6.6% [B₁₂H₁₁NEt₃]^2–, a substituted derivative that has a plasticizing effect in the case of thermomechanical processing. At an optimal ratio of the starting reagents, the thermo-oxidative stability of the [B₁₂H₁₂]^2– anion and the deformation resistance of the WG/[B₁₂H₁₂]^2– system persist up to 600°C.