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Abstract
The nature of adhesion in multicomponent materials such as cellulosic fibers/thermoplastic composites is strongly dependent on the surface properties of the components. X-ray Photoelectron Spectroscopy (XPS) was used to characterize the surfaces of untreated and treated newsprint-fibers. Gamma-aminopropyltriethoxysilane and dichlorodiethylsilane were used for the surface modification of the fibers. The XPS analysis indicated that coupling between the silanes and the newsprint-fibers has occurred, and that silanols were adsorbed to the surface of newsprint-fibers by two different mechanisms: (1) an ether linkage between the silanols and the hydroxyl groups of the fibers and (2) a hydrogen bonding between the amine and the hydroxyl groups of the fibers. The formation of the hydrogen bonding was evidenced by the two observed amino states, i.e., a covalent non-protonated form and an ionic protonated form.
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1 Institute of Wood Research, School of Forestry and Wood Products, Michigan Technological University, 1400 Townsend Drive Houghton, Michigan 49931-1295, USA, US
2 Faculty of Forestry, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada M5S 3B3, CA
3 Department of Mechanical and Industrial Engineering, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada M5S 3G8, CA
4 Centre for Biomaterials, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada M5S 3E3, CA