The reaction of a cellulosic material (Whatman no. 42 filter paper) with tw
o silanes was studied by Diffuse Reflectance Ultraviolet-Visible Spectrosco
py and Diffuse Reflectance Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy. The sil
anes were 3-aminopropyltriethoxysilane (APS) and methyltrimethoxysilane (MS
), a silane with a non-reactive organofunctional group. The use of organic
peroxides was required in order to achieve an efficient cellulose modificat
ion with the silanes. The Diffuse Reflectance UV-VIS Spectroscopy can provi
de valuable information about the mechanism of the reactions between silane
s and cellulose. The reaction between APS and cellulose involves not only t
he silanol groups of the silane, but also the amino groups. The spectra of
APS-treated celluloses show an absorption band at 325 nm. This band was ass
igned to imines produced in the reaction of the amino groups of APS with th
e cellulose. This absorption band increased when APS-treated cellulose was
cured at 120 degrees C. The amino groups, attached to the cellulose dissapp
eared in this process.