What Does
Silane Mean?
Silane is an organic compound containing a single or multiple silicon-carbon (Si-C) bonds. The silicon-based monomeric chemical consists of four substituent, and at least one carbon-silicon bond structure (CH3-Si-). The substituent groups can be a combination of any nonreactive, organically or inorganically reactive groups.
Silane has the ability to react on both the organic and inorganic sides, a feature that offers numerous possibilities to model coating materials to suit required profiles. The silanes are used for corrosion protection, adhesion promotion and other surface modification applications.
Corrosionpedia Explains Silane
The basic atom in silane is silicon, which is in the 4th main group of the periodic table, directly under carbon. Silicon is a metalloid, exhibiting both metallic and nonmetallic properties. The silanes have a chemical structure that allows them to link with either organic or inorganic matrices, making them indispensable to a wide range of applications.
The organo-functional silanes, for example, are used for metal pretreatment to improve adhesion to paints and also as for metal corrosion protection in the painted state. When used for adhesion purposes, the silanes do not work as corrosion inhibitors.
A silane coupling agent is used to improve interfacial adhesion in composites and other materials. They improve chemical and moisture resistance, mechanical strength, electrical properties and other desirable surface qualities. They can thus be used to customize the reactivity, functionality, composition and compatibility of a material to enhance the desirable properties while suppressing undesirable ones. This involves the direct modification of organic or inorganic surfaces or resins, and is achieved by adding one or more of the specific functional group through the silane coupling agents.
Silanes are environmental friendly and used for corrosion protection for various metals ranging from the highly reactive magnesium to stainless steel. In addition, they are used as adhesion promoters and surface modifiers, as well as coupling, dispersing and cross-linking agents.
Typical applications include:
- Erosion/corrosion protection coatings
- Microbiological corrosion protection
- Coatings and metal treatment
- Making highly weatherable automotive paints
- Manufacture of resins for solar panels and hybrid materials for wind power systems