Poly(1,3-propylene glycol-hexanedioic acid) grafted hydroxyl multiwall carbon nanotubes

Poly(1,3-propylene glycol-hexanedioic acid) grafted hydroxyl multiwall carbon nanotube (PHHCNT) was fabricated in the presence of butyl titanate using 1,3-propylene glycol, hexanedioic acid, and hydroxyl multiwall carbon nanotubes as reactants. The hydroxyl groups at carbon nanotubes reacted with hexanedioic acid and a small amount of carboxyl groups reacted with 1,3-propylene glycol, resulting in the PGHA grafted on the carbon nanotubes. The carbon nanotubes surrounded by the PGHA chains with an average thickness of similar to 2 nm. The polycondensation reactions can be controlled by the feed contents of HCNTs and the catalyst concentration in the reactants. The content of HCNTs in PHHCNT rises with an increase of the feed contents of HCNTs. In addition, the content of HCNTs in PHHCNT is higher than the feed contents of HCNTs in the reactants. (c) 2007 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.