Functionalized particulate support material and methods of making and using the same

A polymer containing material comprising a functionalized particulate support material comprising:

• a silica gel particle having a particle surface and exhibiting a particle size from about 10 μm to about 120 μm;
• a first surface functionalizing compound covalently bonded directly to and extending from the particle surface, wherein the first surface functionalizing compound is the reaction product of a first functional group on a first silane, one or more alkenyl monomers, and a spacer monomer, wherein the first functional group is selected from the group consisting of vinyl groups, allyl groups, acryl groups, methacryl groups, and a combination of any two or more thereof;
• a second surface functionalizing compound covalently bonded directly onto the particle surface, wherein the second surface functionalizing compound is the reaction product of a second silane with hydroxyl groups on the particle surface, and the second surface functionalizing compound provides a set of functional groups comprising hydrophilic functional groups and extends from the particle surface;
• wherein the first silane and the second silane are different;
• wherein said first surface functionalizing compound and said second surface functionalizing compound are different;
• and
• wherein the first silane reacts with hydroxyl groups on the particle surface so as to be covalently bonded directly to and extending from the particle surface prior to reaction between the first functional group on the first silane and the one or more alkenylmonomers and the spacer monomer.