Surface modification of inorganic oxide particles with silane coupling agent and organic dyes

The silane coupling agent 3‐glycidoxypropyl trimethoxylsilane (GPS) was grafted onto the surface of silica gel, P 2 glass beads and TiO 2 oxide particles. FT‐IR, thermogravimetric and elemental analysis were used to characterize the modified particles. The effects of various factors on the GPS grafting efficiency such as catalyst, GPS concentration, reaction temperature and time were studied. After modification with GPS, the xanthene dye rhodamine B and azo dyes 4‐phenylazophenol and 4‐phenylazoaniline, respectively, were grafted on to the particles, which were then used as pigment fillers. The colors of the pigments were adjusted by changing the kind of dyes, the concentration, the pH and the reaction solvents. Copyright © 2001 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.