Influence of surface chemistry and surface morphology on the acid-base interaction capacities of glass fibers and silicas

Abstract

Inverse gas chromatography is utilized for the study of the surface properties of glass fibers treated with either a silane or a titanate coupling agent, and silicas before and after treatment with alcohols, diols, and polyethyleneglycols. The dispersive component of the surface energy is easily assessed from the retention data of n-alkanes, and the acid-base interaction capacity is estimated by injecting probes of known acid-base properties. Besides the decisive role of acid-base interactions in the formation of the interface, it is shown that the surface morphology should not be ignored in order to achieve a satisfactory description of the interaction capacity of a given solid surface.

Keywords:

• Glass fibers
• silicas
• modification
• surface properties
• acid-base interaction
• surface morphology
• inverse gas chromatography