Synthesis and characterization of MWCNT-graft-polyisoprene via ARGET ATRP

Regeneration of activators by electron transfer for atom transfer radical polymerization (ARGET ATRP) was performed to synthesize hybrid materials with multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) grafted by in situ polymerized isoprene (PI, analogue of natural rubber). A series of MWCNT-graft-polyisoprene (MWCNT-g-PI) was prepared via this robust grafting strategy, and the successful grafting was confirmed by FT-IR, 1H NMR and TGA measurements. TGA curves show that MWCNT-g-PI samples have sufficient thermal stability. The increase in glass transition temperature for MWCNT-g-PI samples as compared with neat PI was characterized by DSC. TEM was used to observe the morphologies of MWCNT-g-PI. MWCNT-g-PI samples show much better dispersibility in various organic solvents than pristine MWCNTs. Water contact angle measurement indicates that the hydrophobicity of MWCNT-g-PI samples decreases with increasing chain length of the grafted PI.