The structure of an aminosilane coupling agent in aqueous solutions and partially cured solids

Abstract The molecular structures of partially cured polyaminopropylsilsesquioxane and aminopropyltriethoxysilane in water have been studied using Fourier‐transform infrared, laser Raman, and quasielastic laser light‐scattering spectroscopy. A multiply hydrogen‐bonded structure is proposed for the intramolecularly interacting amine and silanol groups on the basis of isotope exchange experiment and conformational energy calculations. Conformational restrictions are rather low for the proposed structure, which is thus suitable for the partially cured solid where there are slight perturbations by the surrounding amine and silanol groups. The O.…N distance was experimentally determined to be in the range 2.70–2.67 Å and estimated theoretically as 2.49–2.45 Å. The aminosilane in very dilute solution is found to be mostly monomeric. The isolated monomer‐oligomer transition lies around 0.15% by weight and this transition influences the amount of silane uptake by glass fibers. It is also proposed that this phenomenon may be general for surface treatments by silane coupling agents. Hydrolyzed aminosilane oligomers exist in part as submicron aggregates which can be broken up by the addition of an alcohol. The neutralized aminosilane hydrolyzes very slowly although it dissolves in water instantaneously. Micelle formation is also proposed.