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70
Silane Adhesion
Promoters
Edwin P. Plueddemann
Dow Corning Corporation References .....................................................................................70-3

Silane adhesion promoters are organofunctional silicon compounds that promote adhesion of coatings
to substrates, especially improving their resistance to debonding under humid conditions. It must be
emphasized that these silanes are not related to polydimethylsiloxane fluids, which cause cratering and
poor repaintability in coatings. Silane adhesion promoters may help overcome such problems of poor
wetting and intercoat adhesion in coatings.
Silane adhesion promoters are generally formulated into primers or added at relatively low levels to
coatings, in contrast to silicone resins, which are typically used at about 30% level in silicone-alkyd or
silicone-acrylic formulations. These silanes are ambifunctional compounds of the general structure
(CH3O)3 SiRX, where X is an organofunctional group chosen for compatibility with the organic coating
and the alkoxysilane portion provides bonding to mineral substrates.1
The alkoxysilane may be prehydrolyzed to silanols that are reactive with hydrate metal oxide surfaces
and contribute siloxane cross-links. Methoxysilanes also react directly with metal hydroxides and then
cross-link in the presence of atmospheric moisture.
Silane adhesion promoters are often effective in improving the adhesion of coatings to plastic surfaces
or to oily metal surfaces. As additives in paints, they may be useful in improving intercoat adhesion.
A recent trend is to formulate adhesion promoters by mixing silane monomers, partially prehydrolyzing
the silanes, or by mixing silanes with polymer precursors such as epoxies and melamines. Silane adhesion
promoters are offered by silane manufacturers Dow Corning Corporation, Union Carbide Corporation,
Petrarch Chemicals Division of Dynamit Nobel, and Peninsular Chemical Research, as well as by pro-
prietary formulators such as Hughson Chemical Division of Lord Corporation. Adhesion promoters
supplied by Dow Corning and recommended for coatings are described in Table 70.1.
Walker2 reviewed a study of silane primers and additives for adhesion of a two-part epoxy paint with
polyamide cure, and a two-part aliphatic isocyanate adduct cured polyester paint on mild steel, aluminum,
cadmium, copper, and zinc surfaces. Silanes were tested as primers (essentially monolayer coverage on
metal), and as 0.1 to 0.4% additive based on total paint. Results, summarized in Table 70.2 for iron and
aluminum, indicate that the diamine-functional silane gave uniformly improved retention of adhesion
under wet conditions and gave greater recovery of adhesion when the panels were dried. Methacrylate-,
epoxy-, and mercaptofunctional silanes were also useful as adhesion promoters. Results were similar on
cadmium, copper, and zinc. Paints with some silane additives showed little deterioration in performance
during 9 months of storage.
Some general recommendations on use of silane adhesion promoters of Table 70.1 for coating on glass,
aluminum, and steel are summarized in Table 70.3.3

70-1

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70-2 Coatings Technology Handbook, Third Edition

TABLE 70.1 Dow Corning Adhesion

Promoters for Coatings
Product Type

21 Additive Amino (50% in butanol)

25 Additive Formulated silane-melamine
Z6030 Methacrylate
Z6032 Vinyl benzylamine
Z6040 Epoxy
X16100 Mixed silanes
1200 Primer Silicate
1205 Primer Formulated silane-epoxy

TABLE 70.2 Weta and Recoveredb Adhesion of Paints on Metals (Modified with Diamine-Functional Silane)
Milk Steel Aluminum
Wet Recovered Wet Recovered
MPa MPa MPa MPa
Paint Metal Treatment % Detached % Detached % Detached % Detached

Polyurethane Degreased 5.6 100 6.8 100 3.8 100 9.9 100
Degreased, primed 7.4 90 12.5 90 11.8 30 22.8 30
Degreased, 0.2% additive 9.8 60 20.2 100 9.5 100 14.5 100
Sandblasted 11.8 95 20.8 60 8.5 100 13.6 80
Sandblasted primed 22.7 30 29.14 0 14.9 20 22.0 30
Sandblasted, 0.4% additive 21.3 20 29.8 0 15.6 70 25.2 30
Epoxide Degreased 7.2 100 10.9 100 5.6 100 11.2 100
Degreased, primed 28.7 100 29.2 10 11.4 30 20.5 40
Degreased, 0.2% additive 17.7 10 26.6 20 25.3 0 26.9 0
Sandblasted 9.2 100 20.9 100 8.5 100 13.7 80
Sandblasted, primed 26.3 50 27.8 40 12.9 40 24.9 30
Sandblasted, 0.2% additive 23.8 0 25.3 20 28.2 0 28.7 0
a After 1500 h of immersion in water.
b Dried in air for 48 h.
Source: Adapted from P. Walker, J. Coat. Technol., 52(668), 33 (1980).

TABLE 70.3 Recommendations for Adhesion of Coating to Metals

Coating Primer Additive

Acrylic solutions
Thermoplastic 1200P, X16100, Z6040 21A, Z6032
Thermosetting 1200P, 25A, Z6040 25A, Z6040, Z16100
Acrylic emulsion
Thermoplastic 21A, Z6040, Z16100 25A, Z6032, Z6040, Z16100
Thermosetting 21A, 25A, Z6040 25A, Z6030, Z6040, Z16100
Alkyd 1200P None
Polyester 1200P, 25A, Z6040 21A, Z6032, Z6040, X16100
Two-package urethane
Polyester 1200P, 25A, Z6032, Z6040 21A, 25A, Z6030, Z6040
Acrylic 1200P, 1205P, 25A, Z6040 21A, 25A, Z6032, X16100
Epoxy
Baking 1205P, 21A, 25A, Z6040 21A, 25A, Z6032, X16100
Air dry 1200P, 1205P, 25A, Z6040 21A, 25A, Z6032, Z6040
PVC plastisols 21A, Z6032 a
a A partially hydrolyzed 21A devolatilized in higher alcohols has been offered as
Q16012.
Source: Dow Corning Corporation.

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Silane Adhesion Promoters 70-3

Silane adhesion promoters are also effective in bonding coatings to plastic surfaces.4 Primers 1200,
1205, and 25A are generally useful on engineering thermoplastics and thermosetting resin surfaces, while
1205P and Z6032 are most useful on polyolefins and vulcanized rubber surfaces.

References
1. E. P. Plueddemann, Silane Coupling Agents. New York, Plenum Press, 1982.
2. P. Walker, J. Coat. Technol., 52(668), 33 (1980).
3. P. G. Pape and W. A. Finzel, Dow Corning Corp., private communication.
4. E. P. Plueddemann, in Adhesion Aspects of Polymeric Coatings. K. L. Mittal, Ed. New York: Plenum
Press, 1983, p. 363.

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