Organofunctional Silane Adhesion Promoters Fundamentals Course
Adhesion promoters, or coupling agents, act as molecular bridges at the interface between a polymer and a substrate to enhance adhesion between the two materials. The type of adhesion promoters considered in this course are difunctional or multifunctional reactive silanes that contain both organofunctional and hydrolyzable groups. These organosilanes are applied as primers to the substrate or are added to the adhesive or sealant formulation in order to achieve self-priming adhesion characteristics. The art and technology of adhesion promotion resides in the chemical design of the adhesion promoter molecule based on its affinity for the substrate and for the applied adhesive or sealant. Ideally, the interfacial bridge formed by the adhesion promoter will improve the initial joint strength and prevent delamination of the adhesive or sealant from the substrate, even when exposed to water or other weathering influences.
Learning Objectives
- Coupling Agents - What & Why
- Organofunctional Silanes - Types & Chemistry
- Adhesion Promoting Mechanism
- Primer - the "Go Between"
Dr. Andreas T. Wolf , Consultant
Andreas T. Wolf works as an independent consultant in the sealants and adhesives area. He graduated in Physical Chemistry at Frankfurt university in 1974 and received a Ph.D. in Theoretical Chemistry from Düsseldorf university in 1978. In 2015, he retired from Dow Corning (now: Dow Silicones) as Chief Scientist of the Global High-Performance Building Solutions business focused on Standardization, Technical Application Support, and Technology Gatekeeping. He has served as editor of ten books on the various aspects of sealants, authored over 200 technical papers, and chaired multiple international scientific symposia.