Surface Properties of Silane-Treated Diatomaceous Earth Coatings: Effect of Alkyl Chain Length

Modification of diatomaceous earth (DE) was performed using alkyltrimethoxysilanes of different chain lengths (C3, C8, C12, C16, and C18), and their resultant properties were determined. The thermal properties of these alkyltrimethoxysilane-treated DE powders were probed using thermogravimetric analysis and temperature-modulated differential scanning calorimetry, and the surface/porosity was studied using nitrogen adsorption and electron...