Grafting of alkoxyamine end-capped (co)polymers onto multi-walled carbon nanotubes

in Polymer (2004), 45(18), 6097-6102

Multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWNTs) have been successfully modified by polystyrene, poly(epsilon-caprolactone), and their block copolymers by addition reaction of the alkoxyamine-terminated precursors ... [more ▼]

Multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWNTs) have been successfully modified by polystyrene, poly(epsilon-caprolactone), and their block copolymers by addition reaction of the alkoxyamine-terminated precursors. Polymer-modified MWNTs are easily dispersed in good solvents for the grafted polymer, such as toluene and THF. This observation has been confirmed by TEM analysis. The grafting ratio of polystyrene chains at the surface of MWNTs depends on the polymer molecular weight. [less ▲]

Efficiency of various nitrones used as precursors of nitroxides in radical polymerization of styrene

Poster (2003, May 16)

Controlled nitroxide-mediated radical polymerization of styrene, styrene/acrylonitrile mixtures, and dienes using a nitrone

in Macromolecules (2002), 35(19), 7214-7223

Radical polymerization of styrene and copolymerization of styrene and acrylonitrile (60/40) are controlled when conducted in the presence of N-tert-butyl-alpha-isopropylnitrone, which is easily ... [more ▼]

Radical polymerization of styrene and copolymerization of styrene and acrylonitrile (60/40) are controlled when conducted in the presence of N-tert-butyl-alpha-isopropylnitrone, which is easily synthesized from cheap reagents. However, for the control to be effective, the nitrone has to be prereacted with the radical initiator. Nitroxides are then formed "in situ", such that this nitrone system is an attractive alternative for the classical nitroxide-mediated polymerization (NMP), which may require a multistep synthesis of nitroxides or alkoxyamines. The choice of the radical initiator is important because it dictates the structure of the nitroxide and thus its capacity to control the radical polymerization. Well-defined poly(styrene)-b-poly(styrene-co-acrylonitrile), poly(styrene)-b-poly(n-butyl acrylate), and poly(styrene)-b-poly(isoprene) copolymers have been successfully synthesized by this process. [less ▲]