The properties of an epoxy/glass interfacial region are studied by covalent
ly grafting a fluorescent probe to the glass surface. A dimethylaminonitros
tilbene fluorophore is tethered to a triethoxysilane-coupling agent, genera
ting a fluorescently labeled silane coupling agent (FLSCA). The glass surfa
ce is coated with a silane layer that was doped with small amounts of FLSCA
. When the FLSCA-doped, silane-coated glass is immersed in epoxy resin, a 4
2-nm blue shift in fluorescence occurs during resin cure over the grafted F
LSCA layer. When the dye is dissolved in bulk epoxy a 64-nm blue shift occu
rs during resin cure. The difference in blue shift is attributed to higher
polarity and enhanced mobility in the buried interface.