3
$\begingroup$

I have two questions regarding silanization:

1) How durable is a silanized glass surface? (i.e. How long a silanized surface can be kept without any change in its wettability or contact angle?)

2) What are the optimum conditions for keeping a silanized surface while it's idle and dry? (e.g. maintenance temperature, humidity, etc. Should it be kept in a desiccator or not necessarily?)

Improve this question
$\endgroup$
1
  • $\begingroup$ Try looking up rainx $\endgroup$
    – Dissenter
    Commented Dec 28, 2015 at 8:55

1 Answer 1

Reset to default
1
$\begingroup$

If done properly, reactions with silanes or siloxanes are effectively permanent, unless removed by serious mechanical abrasion (e.g., scraping the material below the coating) or some sort of etching underneath.

The silanization process involves creating new covalent $\ce{Si-O}$ bonds, which are quite strong.

  1. The silane surface itself should be durable. However, the contact angle may change as material adsorbs on top of it. For example, a colleague has shown that hydrocarbon contaminants change the wettability of many surfaces

  2. I don't think any particular storage is necessary. We store in a vacuum desiccator to minimize the effect of contamination, but as long as you clean the surface, the properties should be consistent.

Improve this answer
$\endgroup$
1
  • $\begingroup$ ​Therefore, I can keep my silanized glass spheres in a closed-cap bottle for a long enough time and probably wash them before I need to use. BTW, I know that with silanization by Octadeyltrichlorosilane, I can reach to CA~110 deg for glass. Do you know what is the Maximum contact angle people could reach on glass, and with what solution? Thanks $\endgroup$
    – vorujak
    Commented Dec 30, 2015 at 21:05

Your Answer

By clicking “Post Your Answer”, you agree to our terms of service and acknowledge you have read our privacy policy.

Not the answer you're looking for? Browse other questions tagged or ask your own question.