Study of the interaction of hydrolysed silane solutions with pre‐treated aluminium substrates

The nature of the interface between thin organosilane bis‐1,2‐(triethoxysilyl)ethane (BTSE) films and alkaline‐cleaned aluminium surfaces has been investigated using XPS. The literature states that an oxane bond (MOSi) is formed by the reaction occurring between OH groups of both the silane and the metal surface. However, in the case of aluminium, the existence of this interfacial bonding is ambiguous. It will be demonstrated that the analysis of a reference silane, i.e. di‐s‐butoxyaluminoxytriethoxysilane (DBAS), having an AlOSi linkage in its chemical structure is very useful for the understanding of the presumed AlOSi bond at the interface between thin BTSE films and alkaline pre‐treated aluminium surfaces. In addition, the influence of the experimental conditions on OH groups, necessary for a good interaction, in the silane solution and at the aluminium surface has been investigated by means of nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) and infrared spectroscopic ellipsometry (IRSE) respectively. Copyright © 2006 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.