ABSTRACT
VII. Modification of the Silica Surface in Order to Form End-Grafted PDMS Layers 616
VIII. Conclusions 617
References 619
I. INTRODUCTION
Silica surfaces are naturally highly active with respect to polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) polymer chains, which spontaneously form hydrogen bonds between the silanol sites of the surface and the oxygen atoms of the backbone of the polymer
Legeretal.
chains.Anumberofpracticalapplicationsofsilicon-basedpolymersrelyonsuch interactions.Thisisthecaseforsiliconesealsroutinelyusedtopreventwater flowingaroundkitchensinks,forexample,inwhichsmallsilicabeadsactas cross-linkersbetweenthechains.Thisisalsothecaseformoresophisticatedand technicalapplicationssuchasthebondingwithsiliconeadhesivesoftheglass windowsinthe"pyramidduLouvre,"bondingwhichhadtobeinvisible,but neverthelessstrong.
