Grafting of polyesters from carbon whisker surface: Copolymerization of epoxides with cyclic acid anhydrides initiated by COOK groups introduced onto the surface

Abstract

Abstract To modify the surface of carbon whisker (vapor‐grown carbon fiber) the grafting of polyesters by use of potassium carboxylate (COOK) groups introduced onto the surface was investigated. The introduction of COOK groups onto the carbon whisker was achieved by the treatment of surface carboxyl groups with KOH aqueous solution. Untreated carbon whisker has no ability to initiate the polymerization. It was found that the anionic ring‐opening alternating copolymerization of epoxides with cyclic acid anhydrides is successfully initiated by COOK groups on the carbon whisker surface. The corresponding polyester was grafted onto the surface based on the propagation of polymer from COOK groups introduced on the surface. The percentage of grafting of the polyester from styrene oxide and phthalic anhydride was determined to be 91.0%. The polymerization rate and percentage of grafting increased upon addition of crown ether. Furthermore, the rate of polymerization increased with increasing the dielectric constant of the solvent, but the percentage of grafting decreased. Polyester‐grafted carbon whisker was found to give a stable colloidal dispersion in a good solvent for the grafted polymer. © 1993 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.