The formation of coupling agent monolayers on the surface of mica

Abstract The interaction of very dilute solutions of a cationic vinylbenzyl silane (CVBS), a methacrylate functional silane (γ‐MPS), and an isopropyl‐tri‐(dioctylpyrophosphato) titanate (IDT) with a mica surface has been studied by carbon analysis. For all three coupling agents the dependence of adsorption with time of treatment follows a step‐like curve, where each step corresponds to a monolayer coverage on the mica. Under the operating conditions used it was noted that a particular monolayer is always completed before the next is started. The adsorption of γ‐MPS was found to be very sensitive to the time allowed for hydrolysis of the silane, while the adsorption of CVBS was relatively independent of the hydrolysis time when it is varied from 0 to 5400 s. The results indicate that γ‐MPS and CVBS near the mica surface form a dense structurally regular multilayer phase with the silane molecules oriented normal to the surface. IDT molecules occupy a surface area on mica which is characteristic of their branched nature.