Preparation of block copolymer(brusher) poly(ethylene glycol)- poly(Ɛcaprolactone)/ multi- wall carbon nanotubes via chemical polymerization

In this study, block copolymer(brusher) poly(ethylene glycol)- poly(Ɛ-caprolactone)/ multi-wall carbonnanotubes synthesized. Firsthy, we prepared two types of pre-functionalized MWCNTs: acid-oxidated MWCNTs andcovalently modified MWCNTs by poly(ethylene glycol) (PEG). The novel poly(ethylene glycol) (PEG) grafted multiwalledcarbon nanotubes (PEG-g-MWCNTs) were synthesized by the covalent functionalization of MWCNTscontaining carboxyl groups(MWCNT-COOH) with hydroxy-terminated PEG chains in the presence of N,Ndicyclohexylcarbodiimide(DCC). Then poly(Ɛ-caprolactone) (PCL) has been covalently grafted onto the surfaces ofmulti walled carbon nanotubes(MWCNTs) by the grafting from approach based on in-situ ring-openingpolymerization of Ɛ-caprolactone using stannous octoate as catalyst at 120 ºC. The resulting products have beencharacterized with Fourier transform infrared spectra (FTIR), and thermogravimetric analysis and scanning electronmicroscopy(SEM).

Keywords:

Block copolymer , poly(ethylene glygol) , poly(Ɛ-caprolactone) , carbon nanotubes , chemical polymerization