Abstract
In this work, surface modification of nanopowders in microwave plasma process was demonstrated. In order to obtain silica nanopowder with polymeric coating, a two-step microwave process was designed. 3-Aminopropyltrimethoxysilane was used as the surface modifier. Transmission electron microscopy and electron energy loss spectroscopy have been used for the direct microstructural imaging and chemical analysis of surface modified-silica nanopowders. The silica nanopowders were uniformly coated with a thick layer of amino-silane. Surface modification in microwave plasma is a simple, direct and easy to control process without using any solvents. The surface modified-silica nanopowders can be incorporated directly into polymer matrix for the preparation of hybrid nanocomposite materials.