Poly(vinyl chloride)-grafted multi-walled carbon nanotubes via Friedel-Crafts alkylation
X. L. Wu, P. Liu
Vol. 4., No.11., Pages 723-728, 2010
DOI: 10.3144/expresspolymlett.2010.87
DOI: 10.3144/expresspolymlett.2010.87
Corresponding author: P. Liu 
GRAPHICAL ABSTRACT
ABSTRACT
A novel approach was developed for the surface modification of the multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) with high percentage of grafting (PG%) by the grafting of polymer via the Friedel-Crafts alkylation. The graft reaction conditions, such as the amount of catalyst added, the reaction temperature, and the reaction time were optimized for the Friedel-Crafts alkylation of the MWCNTs with poly(vinyl chloride) (PVC) with anhydrous aluminum chloride (AlCl3) as catalyst in chloroform (CHCl3). The Fourier Transform Infrared (FT-IR), Raman, and thermogravimetric (TGA) analysis showed that PVC had been successfully grafted onto MWCNTs both at the ends and on the sidewalls by the proposed Friedel-Crafts alkylation. The PVC grafted MWCNTs (PVC-MWCNTs) could be dispersed well in organic solvent and the dispersion was more stable.
