Ring-opening polymerization of 2-oxazolines initiated by chloromethyl groups introduced onto carbon black surface

Abstract

The ring-opening polymerization of 2-oxazolines (OXZs) was found to be initiated by chloromethyl groups introduced onto carbon black surface. The introduction of chloromethyl groups onto the surface was achieved by the reaction of carbon black with 3,3′-bischloromethylbenzoyl peroxide in carbon tetrachloride. During the polymerization, poly-OXZs were grafted from carbon black based on the propagation of the polymers from the surface: percentage of grafting increased with an increase of conversion and reached 40–60%. The polymerization was accelerated by the addition of potassium iodide. Poly-OXZ-grafted carbon black produced stable colloidal dispersions in both hydrophobic and hydrophilic solvents.