title: Surface modification of sepiolite in aqueous gels by using methoxysilanes and its impact on the nanofiber dispersion ability.
abstract: Surface modification reactions on needle-like sepiolite using alkyl and functional silanes have been carried out in the form of aqueous gels. In contrast with modifications in organic solvents, reactions in water make it possible to modify the surface of almost-individual sepiolite fibers and produce either a continuous coating or a nanotexturization of the sepiolite fiber surface, depending on the reaction conditions. This clean procedure substitutes advantageously organic solvent surface modifications and allows the tuning of surface properties such as specific surface area, wetting behavior, and chemical functionalization. A consequence of such tuning is, for example, the excellent dispersion of modified sepiolite nanofibers in a great variety of polymers by routine compounding and processing techniques.
authors.affiliation: Instituto de Ciencia y Tecnología de Polímeros, C.S.I.C., Juan de la Cierva 3, 28006 Madrid, Spain.
authors.forename: Nuria
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: García
authors.forename: Julio
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Guzmán
authors.forename: Esperanza
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Benito
authors.forename: Antonio
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Esteban-Cubillo
authors.forename: Eduardo
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Aguilar
authors.forename: Julio
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Santarén
authors.forename: Pilar
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Tiemblo