Modification and Grafting of Multi-Walled Carbon Nanotubes with Bisphenol-A-polycarbonate

Multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWNT) were oxidized with nitric acid and resulting carboxy groups were transformed to amino groups with a diamine under microwave irradiation. Grafting of bisphenol-A-polycarbonate onto carboxy- and amino-functional MWNT through transesterification or aminolysis resulted in weight increase up to 300%. The morphology of functionalized and grafted MWNTs was investigated with scanning force microscopy (SFM) and transmission electron microscopy (TEM). Depending on the type of functionalisation and the extent of grafting different morphologies were observed. Aminofunctional MWNT-g-PCs showed more "ball-like" or irregular protrusions of grafted PC. Carboxyfunctional MWNT-g-PCs were more smoothly covered with PC.