Characterization of silane-modified ZrO2 powder surfaces

Polymerizable organic silane molecules such as 3-(trimethoxysilyl)propylmethacrylate (γ-MPS) have been grafted onto the surface of ZrO2 powders, via hydroxyl groups, to obtain hybrid ‘macromonomers’. A combination of x-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy and 29Si nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy have been employed to study the interaction between organic silane molecules and the surface of the ZrO2 powders. The core-level XPS regions, Zr3d, O1s, C1s and Si2p, have been studied to determine the nature of chemical bonding between the organic grafted monomer and inorganic phase and correlated with NMR results. Based upon the results obtained, it is proposed that grafting results in γ-MPS bonded to the ZrO2 powder surface via ZrOSi bonds accompanied by interlinkage of γ-MPS molecules through SiOSi bonding.