Cationic Silane Coupling Agents for Thermoplastics

I. INTRODUCTION

Organofunctional silane coupling agents have been used successfully for many years on glass fibers to improve the performance of glass-reinforced polymer composites and to promote retention of properties in the presence of moisture. The “coupling” mechanism of these silanes at the organic-mineral interface is complex, but is fairly well understood [1]. It involves much more than a simple adhesion promotion between organic polymer and mineral surface. In fact, perfect, rigid adhesion between polymer and reinforcement would produce a crack-sensitive composite of little strength or resistance to temperature cycling.