Abstract: A process for treating particles comprising the steps of: (i) contacting the particles with a compound of Formula (I) wherein at least one of R1, R2 and R3 is hydroxyl or a hydrolysable group; and (ii) contacting the particles with a compound of Formula (II) wherein X is an anion and R4 is either: a divalent group —(CyH2y)—, branched jor unbranched, wherein y is a whole number from 1 to 40, or a C6-C40 aromatic group, and t is either 0 or 1.

Abstract: N-substituted-&ohgr;-(alkoxysilanes) of formula (I) wherein: R1 is a C12-C30 alkyl or alkenyl group that is straight-chained or branched, a C5-C40 aryl group, a C5-C40 aralkyl group or a group R5A(CH2)p wherein R5 is a C6-C30 alkyl or alkenyl group that is straight-chained or branched, p is an integer from 2 to 6 and A is O or NH; R2 is a C1-C12 alkyl group (preferably a C1-C5 alkyl group) or a C3-C12 alkenyl group (preferably a C3-C5 alkenyl group); R3 is a C1-C12 alkyl group (preferably a C1-C5 alkyl group), a C1-C12 alkoxy group (preferably A C1-C5 alkoxy group), a C2-C12 alkenyl group (preferably a C2-C5 alkenyl group) or a C3-C12 alkenyloxy group (preferably a C3-C5 alkenyloxy group); R4 has the same definition as R3 and may be the same as R4 or different; R6 is a divalent alkylene group having up to 10 carbon atoms and is optionally interrupted one, two or three times by a phenylene group; and X is an anion; and its free base are disclosed, and processes for their preparation.