Surface characterization of silane-treated industrial glass fibers

The adsorption of silane coupling agents onto glass fiber surfaces has been investigated. The type of adsorption was elucidated using electron spectro scopy for chemical analysis (ESCA or XPS). The surface charging was recorde d using streaming potential analysis. The silane bond strength was tested b y boiling the silanized fibers in water for 2 h. Thereafter the conductivit y of the water was measured in order to estimate the capability of the sila ne surface film to prevent ion dissolution from the glass. ESCA provided in formation on the amount adsorbed and indicated that substantial rearrangeme nt in the surface film structure occurred as a function of the silane conce ntration. The aminosilane produced a strong positive charge on the glass fi bers, while the nonionic silanes were only partly condensed, giving rise to a substantial enhancement of the negative charge. The conductivity measure ments indicated that the silane films were present as a loose patch-like si lane network on the surface of the E-glass fibers. This conclusion is in ac cordance with the results obtained with all the techniques used.