Preparation polystyrene/multiwalled carbon nanotubes nanocomposites by copolymerization of styrene and styryl-functionalized multiwalled carbon nanotubes

Styryl-functionalized multiwalled carbon nanotubes (p-MWNTs) were prepared by esterification based on the carboxylate salt of carbon nanotubes and p-chloromethylstyrene in toluene. Then in situ radical copolymerization of p-MWNTs and styrene initiated by 2,2′-azobis(isobutyronitrile) (AIBN) was applied to synthesize composites of styryl-functionalized multiwalled carbon nanotubes and polystyrene (PS) (p-MWNTs/PS). Characterizations carried out by FT-IR, ¹H NMR, UV–vis show that styryl group covalently bond to the surface of MWNTs. The results of UV showed that the solutions of p-MWNTs/PS in chloroform have the hyperchromic effect. Transmission electron microscopy (TEM) images of p-MWNTs/PS composites and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) images of fracture surface of p-MWNTs/PS composites showed the functionalized nanotubes had a better dispersion than that of the unfunctionalized MWNTs in the matrix. The results of thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) and differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) suggested that the thermal stability of p-MWNTs/PS composites improved in the presence of MWNTs.