Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 9
Claim 1
Independent Claim
230 words
A method for the preparation of surface-modified silica particles dispersible in a hydrophobic organic solvent which comprises the steps of: (a) hydrolyzing a tetraalkoxy silane compound in a medium of an alcohol containing from 2.5 to 6.0 moles of water and from 0.1 to 3 moles of an alkaline compound as a catalyst, each per mole of the tetraalkoxy silane compound, to form an alcosol of silica particles having alkoxy groups and hydroxy groups bonded to the silicon atoms on the surface; and (b) admixing the alcosol of silica particles with an organosilicon compound selected from the group consisting of the compounds represented by the general formula R.sub.4-n SiX.sub.n, (R.sub.3 Si).sub.2 NH, or YO--(--SiR.sub.2 --O--).sub.m --Y, in which each R is, independently from the others, a hydrogen atom or an unsubstituted or substituted monovalent hydrocarbon group having 1 to 20 carbon atoms, X is a hydroxy group or an alkoxy group having 1 to 4 carbon atoms, Y is a hydrogen atom or an alkyl group having 1 to 4 carbon atoms, the subscript n is 1, 2 or 3 and the subscript m is a positive integer not exceeding 20, in an amount in the range from 0.01 to 10 moles per mole of SiO 2 in the silica particles under agitation of the mixture to effect a reaction for the modification of the surface of the silica particles.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
230 words
A method for the preparation of surface-modified silica particles dispersible in a hydrophobic organic solvent which comprises the steps of: (a) hydrolyzing a tetraalkoxy silane compound in a medium of an alcohol containing from 2.5 to 6.0 moles of water and from 0.1 to 3 moles of an alkaline compound as a catalyst, each per mole of the tetraalkoxy silane compound, to form an alcosol of silica particles having alkoxy groups and hydroxy groups bonded to the silicon atoms on the surface; and (b) admixing the alcosol of silica particles with an organosilicon compound selected from the group consisting of the compounds represented by the general formula R.sub.4-n SiX.sub.n, (R.sub.3 Si).sub.2 NH, or YO--(--SiR.sub.2 --O--).sub.m --Y, in which each R is, independently from the others, a hydrogen atom or an unsubstituted or substituted monovalent hydrocarbon group having 1 to 20 carbon atoms, X is a hydroxy group or an alkoxy group having 1 to 4 carbon atoms, Y is a hydrogen atom or an alkyl group having 1 to 4 carbon atoms, the subscript n is 1, 2 or 3 and the subscript m is a positive integer not exceeding 20, in an amount in the range from 0.01 to 10 moles per mole of SiO 2 in the silica particles under agitation of the mixture to effect a reaction for the modification of the surface of the silica particles.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
93 words
The method for the preparation of surface-modified silica particles dispersible in a hydrophobic organic solvent as claimed in claim 1 wherein the silica particles in the alcosol have alkoxy groups and silanolic hydroxy groups bonded to the silicon atoms on the surface in densities of at least 3.5μ moles/m 2 and not exceeding 2μ moles/m 2 , respectively, and the specific surface area S given in m 2 /g and the average particle diameter D given in nm of the silica particles satisfy the relationship of S×D≧5000, D being 1 nm or larger.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
43 words
The method for the preparation of surface-modified silica particles dispersible in a hydrophobic organic solvent as claimed in claim 1 wherein the concentration of the tetraalkoxy silane compound in the hydrolysis medium is in the range from 0.1 to 6.0 moles per liter.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
29 words
The method for the preparation of surface-modified silica particles dispersible in a hydrophobic organic solvent as claimed in claim 1 wherein the alkaline compound as the catalyst is ammonia.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
45 words
The method for the preparation of surface-modified silica particles dispersible in a hydrophobic organic solvent as claimed in claim 1 wherein the tetraalkoxy silane compound is selected from the group consisting of tetramethoxy silane, tetraethoxy silane, tetra(n-propoxy) silane, tetra(isopropoxy) silane, tetra(n-butoxy) silane and tetra(isobutoxy) silane.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
43 words
The method for the preparation of surface-modified silica particles dispersible in a hydrophobic organic solvent as claimed in claim 1 wherein the alcohol as the hydrolysis medium is selected from the group consisting of methyl alcohol, ethyl alcohol, isopropyl alcohol and n-butyl alcohol.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
41 words
The method for the preparation of surface-modified silica particles dispersible in a hydrophobic organic solvent as claimed in claim 1 wherein the hydrolysis medium in step (a) is kept at a temperature in the range from 10° C. to 50° C.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
33 words
The method for the preparation of surface-modified silica particles dispersible in a hydrophobic organic solvent as claimed in claim 1 wherein the mixture in step (b) is agitated for at least one hour.