Preparation of polybutene‐1/multiwall carbon nanotube composite by oxidation and limonene radical grafting and its characterization

In this study, a novel preparation of a polybutene‐1 (PB) and multiwall carbon nanotube (MWNT) composite was achieved by a combination of PB autooxidation and a radical grafting reaction using an Nd₂O₃/dicumyl peroxide (DCP) radical initiator system with limonene. The autooxidation worked as an amplifier to produce more alkyl radical species in the grafting reaction, and the existence of the MWNTs and the limonene suppressed the side reaction. In addition, the existence of the limonene suppressed the oxidation of the MWNT surface. The composite obtained was assessed in comparison with a PB/MWNT composite and a composite of PB/MWNT modified by Nd₂O₃/DCP without limonene using some spectroscopic methods, optical and electron microscopes, a thermal analyzer and tensile testing. The novel preparation produced a well dispersed nanocomposite compared with the other preparations. The modified MWNT surface was tightly linked to the PB matrix, so that the tensile properties of the composite showed a dependence on MWNT content. Copyright © 2011 Society of Chemical Industry