The interaction of amino and glycidyl silanes with E-glass surfaces

Despite research on the interaction of silanes with various substrates over many decades, there is still some uncertainty over the contribution of the glass modifiers on the nature of the deposit. Both -aminopropyltriethoxysilane (APS) with the nitrogen atom and -glycidoxypropyltrimethoxysilane (GPS) without a diagnostic element were involved in this work. A detailed study of the nature of the deposits using surface analysis and contact angle measurements has been undertaken. X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) results provided the quantitative elemental composition and the different bonding environments of atoms. The involvement of the glass modifies in the silane deposit has been studied systematically. The paper will report how the variables in the coating procedure and the initial surface chemistry affect the structure of the deposit.