Effect of polystyrene coating on pore, structural and chromatographic properties of silica packings

Abstract A series of mesoporous and macroporous silicas with a mean pore diameter (PD), between 6 and 200 nm were reacted with a copolymer of styrene and vinyl-methyldiethoxysilane. The mass load of coated silicas corresponded to the monolayer capacity of the polymer calculated on the basis of the molecular cross-sectional area, except for the two mesoporous silcias of PD = 6 and 7.5 nm. Depending on the pore size, changes occurred in the specific surface area, as, between the native and the coated product. A comparison of the specific pore volume, νp, of silicas before and after polymer immobilization indicated a major loss of νp for the two mesoporous silicas whereas this effect was much …