Preparation of the hydrophilic/hydrophobic silica particles

Silicas of high dispersion degree were obtained. The process included formation of silica particles and their aggregation. Glycerin solution was used in precipitation process, resulting in a partial blocking of the silica surface hydroxyl groups (silanol groups) and, thus, in a decreased hydrophilicity of silica. Studies on the surface modification of silicas using silane coupling agents are described. The best modifiers were selected, which induced a change of the silica surface from the hydrophilic to the hydrophobic one. Basic physicochemical analyses of the obtained silicas were performed. Near infrared spectroscopy (NIR) was used to determine the degree of condensation of silica surface silanol groups. The degree of hydrophobization of silica surface was determined by a calorimetric method. Moreover, zeta potential, size distribution of primary particles, aggregates and agglomerates structures were determined by ZetaPlus instrument using electrophorectic (ELS) and dynamic (DLS) light scattering techniques.