Adsorption and thermogravimetric studies of mesoporous silica coated with siloxane polymer

Nitrogen adsorption and high-resolution thermogravimetry were used to study a series of samples prepared by coating Porous silica with different amoun ts of siloxane polymer. Thermogravimetry was employed to investigate the th ermal behavior of the coated samples as well as the polymer-silica interact ions. Nitrogen adsorption was used to monitor the changes in the specific s urface area, porosity, and surface properties upon polymer coating. It is s hown that the gradual changes in the aforementioned properties are observed up to some limiting coating level. Also, in this coating range a rather un iform film is formed by siloxane polymer on the silica surface. (C) 2001 Ac ademic Press.