Silane coupling agents are synthetic hybrid inorganic-organic compounds used to promote adhesion between dissimilar materials. They are good at promoting adhesion in many materials such as ceramic, metal, polymers and composite materials surfaces.
Silane coupling agents are synthetic hybrid inorganic-organic compounds used to promote adhesion between dissimilar materials. They are good at promoting adhesion in many materials such as ceramic, metal, polymers and composite materials surfaces.
The silane coupling agent reacts chemically to form a durable bond with non-silica-based materials. When talking about bonding together two different materials the interface involving such materials becomes a dynamic area of chemistry in which surfaces have to be modified in order to generate desired heterogeneous environments or to incorporate the bulk properties of different phases into a uniform composite structure. The silane treatment is the one that improves significantly the mechanical strength of composite materials, the properties of adhered joints and the surface chemistry. Moreover, the bonded joint that was treated preliminarily with silane will stand severe environmental conditions such as high humidity levels and temperature shocks than a non-treated one.
Silane Chemistry
Silane chemistry contains two different functional groups that can react with inorganic matrices, for example, ceramics, and organic materials, for example, resins. Therefore, they can be used as coupling agents to connect dissimilar materials.
Silanes can create a bond between inorganic and organic materials. A general formula for a functional silane coupling agent is X-(CH2)n-Si-(OR)3, where X is an organo-functional group that reacts with an organic resin, -(CH2)n– is a linker group, and -OR is an alkoxy group. The alkoxy groups are activated by hydrolysis (≡SiOR→ ≡SiOH) before they react with the surface hydroxyl groups of the substrate.
