Polymer coating of carboxylic acid functionalized multiwalled carbon nanotubes via reversible addition-fragmentation chain transfer mediated emulsion polymerization

In this work, successful polymer coating of COOH-functionalized multiwalled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) via reversible addition fragmentation chain transfer (RAFT) mediated emulsion polymerization is reported. The method used amphiphilic macro-RAFT copolymers as stabilizers for MWCNT dispersions, followed by their subsequent coating with poly(methyl methacrylate-co-butyl acrylate). Poly(allylamine hydrochloride) was initially used to change the charge on the surface of the MWCNTs to facilitate adsorption of negatively charged macro-RAFT copolymer onto their surface via electrostatic interactions. After polymerization, the resultant latex was found to contain uniform polymer-coated MWCNTs where polymer layer thickness could be controlled by the amount of monomer fed into the reaction. The polymer-coated MWCNTs were demonstrated to be dispersible in both polar and nonpolar solvents. (c) 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem, 2013