Effect of Polarity of Solvent on Silanization of Halloysite Nanoclay Using (3-Glycidyloxy propyl) Trimethoxy Silane

Abstract: The grafting of silane groups on clay surfaces has been recently investigated in order to fabricate versatile compounds with new potential applications in materials science and ecological engineering. This work explored the influence of variety of solvents with variable polarity on the silanization of halloysite nanoclay (HNT) surface by (3-Glycidyloxy propyl) trimethoxy silane. To this purpose, the functionalization of HNT by 3-Glycidyloxypropyltrimethoxysilane (GOPTMS) has been conducted in Ethanol (polar protic solvent), Tetrahydrofuran (THF) and Acetonitrile (polar aprotic solvents), and Hexane, 1,4-Dioxane and Toluene (non polar solvents). The silane grafted materials were characterized by using several techniques, including Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FT-IR), elemental analysis, Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM), Thermogravimetry (TGA), X-ray Diffraction Analysis (XRD) and Nitrogen adsorption/desorption isotherms. The largest silane loading has been detected for the hybrid nanomaterials prepared in Hexane as a dispersing medium. Graphic Abstract: [Figure not available: see fulltext.]