Premium
Versatile method via reversible addition‐fragmentation transfer polymerization for synthesis of poly styrene/ZnO–nanocomposite
Author(s) -
Abbasian Mojtaba,
Masoumi Bakhshali,
Rashidzadeh Bahaaldin
Publication year - 2016
Publication title -
polymer engineering and science
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.503
H-Index - 111
eISSN - 1548-2634
pISSN - 0032-3888
DOI - 10.1002/pen.24242
Subject(s) - materials science , raft , chain transfer , polystyrene , polymerization , polymer chemistry , reversible addition−fragmentation chain transfer polymerization , nanocomposite , nanoparticle , chemical engineering , styrene , polymer , surface modification , radical polymerization , copolymer , nanotechnology , composite material , engineering
Reversible addition‐fragmentation chain transfer (RAFT) polymerization enables the synthesis of controlled architectures for a wide‐variety of polymers with defined end and pendant functionalities using mild conditions. A simple synthetic route for the preparation of polystyrene (PS)/ZnO nanocomposite with well‐defined structure is demonstrated. ZnO nanoparticles were synthesized by homogeneous precipitation. To reduce the aggregation among ZnO nanoparticles, an effective surface modification method was proposed by grafting polystyrene onto the ZnO particles. The surface of ZnO nanoparticles was firstly treated with a 4‐cyano‐4‐[(4‐methoxyphenyl carbon thiol) solfanylvaleric acid] coupling RAFT agent in the presence of THF as a solvent at 65°C. A carboxylic group in raft agent attached to ZnO nanoparticles by the esterification reaction with the hydroxyl groups on the ZnO particle surface. Then, RAFT polymerization of styrene was subsequently conducted to graft PS onto the exterior surface of ZnO nanoparticles by new RAFT agent 4‐cyano‐4‐[(4‐methoxyphenyl carbon thiol) solfanylvaleric acid]. The obtained nanocomposite was characterized by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FT‐IR), thermo gravimetric (TGA), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), and X‐ray powder diffraction (XRD). POLYM. ENG. SCI., 56:187–195, 2016. © 2015 Society of Plastics Engineers