Effect of a Nitroxyle-Based Radical Scavenger on Nanotube Functionalisation with Pentadecane: A Model Compound Study for Polyethylene Grafting onto MWCNTs

Sohaib Akbar (1) , Emmanuel Beyou (1) , Philippe Chaumont (1) , Flavien Mélis (1)

1 IMP-LMPB - Ingénierie des Matériaux Polymères - Laboratoire des Matériaux Polymères et des Biomatériaux

The radical grafting of pentadecane onto MWCNTs has been investigated. A model for the functionalisation of MWCNTs with molten polyethylene is established, in which a pentadecane radical grafting reaction has been studied in order to determine the reaction conditions necessary to enhance the degree of grafting while minimising side reactions such as radical combination reactions. The effect of a nitroxyle-based radical scavenger (such as TEMPO) on the competition between the recombination of pentadecane radicals and addition to nanotubes has been explored. It was observed that the use of TEMPO resulted in a relatively higher grafting density without excessive pentadecane branching/cross-linking.

Mots clés: hydrogen abstraction; MWCNT; radical scavenger; TEMPO; MULTIWALLED CARBON NANOTUBES; REACTIVE EXTRUSION; ORGANIC PEROXIDES; POLYMERIZATION; COMPOSITES; POLYSTYRENE; COPOLYMERS; POLYMERS

Domaines: Polymères; Matériaux

Sohaib Akbar, Emmanuel Beyou, Philippe Chaumont, Flavien Mélis. Effect of a Nitroxyle-Based Radical Scavenger on Nanotube Functionalisation with Pentadecane: A Model Compound Study for Polyethylene Grafting onto MWCNTs. Macromolecular Chemistry and Physics, 2010, pp.2396-2406. ⟨10.1002/macp.201000280⟩. ⟨hal-00587323⟩