| Abstract: | The cationic graft polymerization of several monomers initiated by acylium perchlorate groups introduced onto the carbon fiber surface was investigated to modify the surface. The introduction of acylium perchlorate groups was successfully achieved by the reaction of silver perchlorate with acyl chloride groups, which were introduced by the reaction of surface carboxyl groups with thionyl chloride. It was found that the cationic polymerization of styrene is initiated by acylium perchlorate groups on the carbon fiber. In the polymerization, polystyrene was grafted onto the carbon fiber surface through the propagation of polystyrene from the surface. Ungrafted polymer was also formed by the chain transfer reaction of growing polymer cation to the monomer. The acylium perchlorate groups have the ability to initiate cationic ring-opening polymerization of tetrahydrofuran (THF) and ε-caprolactone (CL), polyTHF and polyCL being grafted onto the carbon fiber surface, respectively. Polyacetals, such as poly(1,3-dioxolane) and polyoxymethylene, were able to graft onto the carbon fiber by cationic ring-opening polymerization of the corresponding monomers. |
