A) Coupling agent:
Organic functional alkoxy silanes are used to conjugate organic polymers to inorganic materials, and a typical feature of this application is enhancement. Examples: fiberglass and mineral fillers mixed with plastic and rubber. They are used in conjunction with thermosetting and thermoplastic systems. Mineral fillers such as white carbon black, talcite, wollastonite, clay and other materials are either pre-treated with silane or added directly during the composite process.
By using organic functional silanes on hydrophilic, non-organic reactive fillers, the mineral surface becomes reactive and oil-wet. Applications for fiberglass include automobile bodies, ships, shower stalls, printed circuit boards, satellite television antennas, plastic pipes and containers, among others.
Mineral filling systems include reinforced polypropylene, white carbon black filled molding plastics, silicon carbide grinding wheels, granular filled polymer concrete, sand-filled casting resins and clay-filled EPDM wires and cables, as well as clay-filled and white carbon black filled rubber for automotive tyres, soles, mechanical materials and other applications.
B) Adhesive accelerator
Silane coupling agents are effective bonding promoters when used to bond adhesives and substrates for paints, inks, coatings, adhesives, and sealants. When used as a mono additive, silane must migrate to the interface between the binder and the treated material to be effective. When used as a primer, silane coupling agents are used on inorganic materials before the product is bonded.
In this case, silane is in the best position to act as a bonding reinforcer (at the interface area). With the proper use of silane coupling agents, inks, coatings, binders or sealants that are difficult to adhere to can maintain a long-term bond, even under harsh environmental conditions.