Fully alkoxysilane-functionalized aliphatic polyamine compounds

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION As used herein the term "fully alkoxysilane-functionalized" is intended to connote that the number of alkoxysilane moieties and reacted amine moieties in the functionalized product are substantially equal.
In other words, substantially all the amine groups (--NH or --NH.
sub.
2, if terminal) have been functionalized with alkoxysilane groups.
The term "aliphatic" as used herein is intended to cover moieties which include alkylene groups (CH.
sub.
2), and, in the case of the diamine compound shown in Example 8, below, the group >C.
dbd.
O.
The aliphatic polyamine compounds which are appropriately functionalized by means of the present invention may have the formula: H.
sub.
2 N--[(CH.
sub.
2).
sub.
n NH].
sub.
m --H where n can be 2, 3 or 4 and m can vary from 1 to about 30.
A particularly preferred compound has m and n both equal to 2 and is a triamine.
Another aliphatic polyamine compound useful in accordance with the present invention has the formula: H.
sub.
2 N--C(O)--NH.
sub.
2.
The foregoing type of compounds are functionalized by reaction with a compound having an amine-reactive group ("A") at one end (such as an isocyanate group) and an alkoxysilane group at the other.
In the case of trialkoxysilane-containing compounds, which are preferred, this compound for use in functionalizing the polyamine will have the general structure: A--L--Si(OR).
sub.
3 where A is the amine-reactive function, L is a linking group, and R is lower alkyl.
One class of compound which can be used are the isocyanatoalkylalkoxysilanes wherein the isocyanato moiety reacts with the amine functions in the polyamine forming urethane bonds (e.
g.
, compounds of the formula (RO).
sub.
3 Si(CH.
sub.
2).
sub.
m N.
dbd.
C.
dbd.
O, where R is a lower alkyl and m can vary from 1 to 4).
The functionalized aliphatic polyamine compounds described herein can be used to form coatings for wear resistance applications in conjunction with metal alkoxides or, surprisingly, alone to form organic/inorganic hybrid materials