Organic Functionalized Carbon Nanotubes Covalently Bonded with PE by Grafting Copolymerization

Abstract

Grafting copolymerization method was used to synthesize copolymer of polyethylene with single-walled carbon nanotubes (SWNTs). Firstly, SWNTs were functionalized along their side walls with 1-alkene organic groups using the 1, 3-dipolar cycloaddition reaction. Then, a metallocene catalyst C2H4[(tert-H)Ind]ZrCl2 was used to synthesize polyethylene grafted from SWNTs (PE-g-SWNTs) copolymers by copolymerization with ethylene. SWNTs can be used to compound PE-g-SWNTs nanocomposites by a grafting copolymerization approach. The results show that PE covalently grafted from organic functionalized SWNTs forming a strong interface between the SWNTs and the PE matrix. The microstructure of the obtained copolymers was characterized. The SWNTs were dispersed well in the copolymers due to covalent linkage of functionalized SWNTs with polyethylene. Thermal stability of PE-g-SWNTs is better than those of pure PE and PE/SWNTs physical mixture. It indicates that the addition of SWNTs by the grafting copolymerization approach is mainly due to the delay of the thermal decomposition temperature in PE matrix.