1. Silane coupling agents for surface treatment of glass fibres

Glass fiber, being an inorganic nonmetallic material with good insulation, heat resistance, corrosion resistance, and high mechanical strength, is frequently used in composite materials as reinforcing material, electrical insulation material, and adiabatic heat insulation material. Glass fibre's high surface activity, on the other hand, is incompatible with resin, reducing its filling effect significantly.

Modifying the surface of glass fibre is important to increase the bonding capabilities of resin and glass fibre, as well as the strength, electrical, and weathering properties of glass fibre reinforced composites.

Silane coupling agents, which come in a variety of forms, are currently employed in glass fibre surface modification. These include vinyl silane, amino silane, methacryloyloxy silane, and others.

2. Surface treatment of inorganic fillers with silane coupling agents

To satisfy their various application qualities, plastics, rubber, and other polymeric materials require the addition of various inorganic fillers. Because material compounding can be done through direct contact at the interface, the type and microstructure of the interface has a direct impact on its physical qualities and bonding force.

3. Surface modification of nanopowders with silane coupling agents

Nanopowders have a unique tiny size effect, tunneling effect, and surface effect due to their small particle size and large specific surface area. They are widely utilized in plastics, rubber, coatings, and other sectors for their superior reinforcing, stability, and thickening capabilities.

Nanopowders are difficult to distribute and infiltrate in the organic phase because to their high surface energy and facile clumping, which limits their ultra-fine effect. As a result, they must be surface modified to improve their compatibility and bonding with organic molecules.

A popular way of nano-powder modification is the use of coupling agent molecules and nano-powder surface to carry out some kind of chemical reaction, with the coupling agent uniformly covered in the surface of the nano-powder to improve the hydrophobic nano-powder. Silane coupling agents, titanate coupling agents, and aluminate coupling agents are all commonly employed.

4. Silane coupling agents are used as tackifiers for sealants, paints and others

Silane coupling agents are used as tackifiers in adhesives, sealants, and coatings to improve bond strength, water resistance, and weathering.

The addition of functional silane coupling agents to coatings allows silanes to form interpenetrating network polymers (IPN) or cross-link with the coating's film-forming polymer, enhancing coating wetting and adherence to the substrate. Alkyl and aryl silanes can also improve pigment gloss, concealing power, miscibility, wetting, and dispersion.

5. Silane coupling agents for other applications

In the metal surface treatment sector, silane coupling agents are also commonly employed.

When metal surfaces are pretreated with KH-560, a silane film coating is created, which is comparable to or even better than phosphate treatment in terms of corrosion resistance.

This method is projected to progressively replace phosphating, chromate passivation, and other popular metal surface treatment processes, therefore addressing the environmental issues that have long plagued the industry.