Thermal and hydrothermal stability of amino-functionalized SBA-16 and promotion of hydrophobicity by silylation

Amino-functionalized SBA-16 were prepared by silylating various N-(2-aminoethyl)-3-aminopropyltrimethoxysilane (AEAPS) contents on the SBA-16 supports, and their hydrophobicity, thermal and hydrothermal stabilities were investigated with water adsorption isotherms, temperature-programmed-degradation mass spectrometry (TPD-MS) and N2 adsorption–desorption. The functionalized SBA-16 samples show super hydrophobicity to the SBA-16 support, due to the coverage of silanol groups by amino-groups. The amino-groups silylated on SBA-16 are thermally stable up to 200 °C both in He and in air. Decomposition in He and combustion of the amino-groups in air were observed at higher temperature (beyond 200 °C), respectively. The functionalized SBA-16 samples show high hydrothermal stability and they are related to the extent of silylation.