Surface modification silane coupling agent

Many other functional silane coupling agents are available from commercial suppliers, including hydroxyl, aldehyde, acrylate and methacrylate, and anhydride compounds. Substrate modification procedures similar to those discussed above can be used with these reagents to link a biomolecule to an inorganic surface or particle. 

Scheme 12.1.1 Surface modification with silane coupling agent.

A recent study by DePalma and Tillman [ 10] also demonstrates the potential of surface modification by self-assembled monolayers of low surface energy fiuoroalkyl-containing silanes. Fatty acids, amines and alcohols have long been known to adsorb as monomolecular films on metals. Silane coupling agents have featured strongly in new studies to develop more robust films, covalently bound together and to the metal substrate. 

Modification of the surfaces of coUoidal silica spheres with silane coupling agents enables transfer of the particles to nonpolar solvents. With 3-methacryloxypropyltri-methoxysilane bonded to the surface, the particles have been transferred from water to the polymerizable monomer, methyl acrylate. Electrostatic repulsion due to a low level of residual charge on the particle surfaces cause the dilute dispersions of particles to form a non-close packed colloidal crystalline array (CCA). Polymerization of the methyl acrylate with 200 nm diameter silica spheres in a CC fixes the positions of the spheres in a plastic film by the reactions shown in Figure 11.14. The difriaction... 

Adsorption of alkoxysilanes onto cellulose fibers also holds promise for modification of the cellulose surface. The basic formula of the silane-coupling agents used has an organofunctional group on one side of the chain and an alkoxy group on the other. Abdelmouleh studied the adsorption of several prehydrolyzed alkox-... 

Many theories have been proposed to account for the profound effect minute proportions of silane coupling agents at the dispersed particle interface have on the performance of composites.These include chanical bonding theory acid—base interactions formation of interpenetrating networks wetting and surface energy effects polymer morphology modification deformable layer theories restrained layer theory. 

Based on the literature discussed in this chapter, it seems that surface modification of natural fibers is absolutely necessary to improve their thermal stability, dispersion in the polymer matrix, and compatibility with the polymer matrix. Physical and chemical methods reported have significantly modified the surface properties of the fibers as well as polymer matrices to improve the dispersion of the fibers and hence various properties of the polymers. Use of silane coupling agents and acetylation... 

Silane treatment in surface modification of glass fiber composites have been applied by various researchers [42-45]. They have found that Silane coupling agents are effective in modifying natural fiber-polymer matrix interface and increasing the interfacial strength. 

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