Vinylsilane
Vinylsilane, also called vinyl silane or ethenyl silane, is an organic chemical with chemical formula C
2H
6Si or CH2=CH–SiH3. It is a derivative of silane.
Vinylsilane may also refer generically to any vinyl-substituted silane, such as vinyltrimethoxysilane or vinyltriethoxysilane. In this context it can refer to a monomer used for some copolymer plastics such as ethylene-vinyltrimethoxysilane and ethylene-vinyl acetate-vinyltrimethoxysilane. Vinyltrialkoxysilanes are also used as cross-linking agents during the manufacture of cross-linked polyethylene (PEX). The alkoxysilane moiety is reactive toward water, and in the presence of moisture, it forms silicon-oxygen-silicon bonds that cross-link the material to cure it. Moisture-curable polymers are used as electrical insulation in some kinds of cables and for water pipe in under-floor heating installations.