The functionalization of a carbon black surface with atom transfer radical polymerization (ATRP) initiating sites and subsequent ATRP of n-butyl acrylate (n-BA) from the surface of carbon black is reported. The polymerizations were carried out using CuBr/N,N,N′,N′,N′′-pentamethyldiethylenetriamine and CuBr2/ 4,4′-di(5-nonyl)-2,2′-bipyridine as the catalytic system at 70 °C. A significant amount of polymers was attached to the carbon black as determined by thermogravimetric analysis and light scattering experiments. The molecular weights of the polymers grafted on carbon black were determined by detachment experiments and measured by gel permeation chromatography. The presence of dense poly(n-BA) brushes around carbon black aggregates was confirmed by atomic force microscopy. The resulting poly(n-BA)-bound carbon blacks formed stable dispersions in organic solvents for poly(n-BA).

The synthesis of hydrophilic carbon black composites by grafting 2-(dimethylamino)ethyl methacrylate (DMAEMA) from functionalized carbon black using atom transfer radical polymerization (ATRP) is reported. The polymerizations were performed in methanol/water mixtures near ambient temperatures using CuBr/CuBr 2 /2,2′-bipyridine as the catalytic system. Under acidic conditions or upon quaternization with ethyl bromide, the polymer-bound carbon black can form stable dispersions in water. TGA, light scattering, and AFM were used to characterize the polymer bound carbon black. 2-Hydroxyethyl methacrylate (HEMA) was random and block copolymerized with DMAEMA to form functional carbon black nanocomposites.

The functionalization of carbon black surface with atom transfer radical polymerization (ATRP) initiating sites and subsequent ATRP of n-butyl acrylate (n-BA) and t-butyl acrylate (t-BA) from the surface of carbon black is reported. The polymerizations were carried out using CuBr/N, N, N 0 , N@, N@-pentamethyldiethylenetriamine as the primary catalytic system in anisole at 70 8C. The initiator density on carbon black surface was tuned and the effect of initiator density on the polymers grafted on the surface was illustrated. Polymerizations were also performed in the presence of a sacrificial initiator to indirectly monitor the molecular weight evolution of polymers formed in the system. Block copolymerization of t-BA initiated from poly(n-BA) grafted carbon black was conducted to achieve water-dispersible carbon black composites after cleavage of the t-butyl groups. V V C 2005 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 43: 4695-4709, 2005