Cp. Tripp et al., REACTION OF ALKYLCHLOROSILANES WITH SILICA - IMPORTANCE OF A SURFACE ATTACHMENT IN DEFINING THE TRIBOELECTRIFICATION OF THE MODIFIED SILICA, Langmuir, 11(6), 1995, pp. 1858-1859
In the surface treatment of silica with alkylsilanes, the formation of
a covalent bond with the surface is recognized as being important in
obtaining highly robust films. In this paper, we show that the presenc
e of a covalent bond is also important in defining the behavior and pr
operties imparted to the silica by the silane layer. Specifically, it
is shown that a chemically bonded alkylsilane is a necessary condition
to alter the triboelectric properties of the silica. The triboelectri
c charge is sensitive to the distribution and level of absorbed water
and this is altered by the presence of the surface bonds.