Process for preparing a composition containing 2-ethylhexyl silicate

1. A process for preparing a composition containing, 2-ethylhexyl silicate, said process comprising:

heating a reaction mixture of ethyl silicate with an excess amount of 2-ethylhexanol in the presence of titanium tetrabutoxide as catalyst to a temperature below the boiling point of 2-ethylhexanol while mixing,

allowing the reaction mixture to react and,

after the reaction, removing ethanol and excess 2-ethylhexanol from the reaction mixture by distillation and obtaining the composition containing 2-ethylhexyl silicate.

2. The process according to claim 1 ,

wherein the weight ratio of ethyl silicate and 2-ethylhexanol is 1:1.1 to 1:10.

3. The process according to claim 1 ,

wherein the amount of titanium tetrabutoxide is 0.01% to 0.5% by weight, based on the amount of 2-ethylhexyl silicate used.

4. The process according to claim 1 ,

wherein the reaction is conducted at a temperature of 140 to 182° C.

5. The process according to claim 1 ,

wherein the reaction is conducted over a period of 12 to 60 hours.

6. The process according to claim 1 ,

wherein the transesterification reaction is conducted with a yield of ≥95%.

7. The process according to claim 1 ,

wherein said composition comprises a 2-ethylhexyl silicate content of ≥90% by weight.