Synthesis and characterization of hydrophobic silica nanocomposites

Hydrophobically modified silica nanocomposites have been prepared using a low temperature sol-gel process. In this study, an alkyltriethoxysilane derivative, hexdecyltrimethoxysilane (HDTMS), was co-condensed with tetraethoxyorthosilicate (TEOS) with and without a cross-linking agent, 3-glycidoxypropyltrimethoxysilane (GPTMS), to produce the modified composites. The hydrophobic properties were determined using contact angle measurement. FESEM observations revealed a semispherical nanostructure of the composites with grain size of about 50-75 nm in diameter. The chemical modification was studied by FTIR and EDX, whereas the physicothermal properties were analyzed by DSC and TGA. These long-chain alkyl modified silica nanocomposites are promising materials for use in hydrophobic and water-resistant applications.