Molecular orientation of silane at the surface of colloidal silica

The objective of this study was to investigate the silica-silane bond formation present at the filler interface of dental composites. Diffuse reflectance infrared Fourier transform spectroscopy was used, and the spectra of pyrogenic silica (Cab-O-Sil) treated with different concentrations of gamma-methacryloxypropyltrimethoxysilane (MPS) were analyzed. The outcome of the study suggested that the gamma-methacryloxypropyltrimethoxysilane (MPS) molecules oriented parallel to the colloidal silica surface (Cab-O-Sil) and formed two types of bonds. One of these bonds was a siloxane bridge formed by a condensation reaction between the silanol groups of both the silica surface and the hydrolyzed silane. Water formed during this reaction and soon became recaptured by the silanol groups of the silica surface. These water molecules were not available for additional hydrolyzation reactions of the unhydrolyzed silane under the experimental conditions. The intensity of the isolated OH-groups decreased because of this reaction. Simultaneous with the condensation reaction, the carbonyl group of the MPS molecule formed hydrogen bonds. This hydrogen bond formation resulted in a peak shift of the carbonyl band from 1718-1720 cm-1 to 1700-1702 cm-1. This hydrogen bond formation also occurred with the isolated OH-groups. After consumption of the isolated OH-groups, no additional surface reaction occurred because no further OH-groups were available for additional condensation reactions or hydrogen bond formation. The findings suggest that the amount of silane needed for filler treatment depends on the number of isolated OH-groups available on the filler surface.