Synthesis and characterization of novel hybrid polyoxazoline-grafted multiwalled carbon nanotubes

The novel hybrid polyoxazoline‐grafted multiwalled carbon nanotubes (POZO‐grafted MWNTs) were synthesized by the reaction of partially hydrolyzed polyoxazolines (Hydrolyzed‐POZO) and MWNTs having carboxylic acid groups (MWNT‐COOH) in the presence of DCC as a condensing agent. Hydrolyzed‐POZO (degree of hydrolysis, 20.2 mol % by 1H‐NMR) were produced from the hydrolysis of polyoxazolines in an aqueous NaOH solution at reflux for 72 h. MWNT‐COOH were prepared by acid treatment of pristine MWNTs. The composition, structure, thermal property, and surface morphology of the novel hybrid POZO‐grafted MWNTs were fully characterized by FT‐IR, Raman, 1H‐NMR, DSC, TGA, SEM, and TEM. The obtained POZO‐grafted MWNTs are well soluble in various organic solvents and water. It was observed that the glass transition temperature (Tg) of POZO‐grafted MWNTs was lower than that of Hydrolyzed‐POZO due to the absence of hydrogen bonding interactions between Hydrolyzed‐POZO itself caused by the incorporation with MWNTs. It was also found that Hydrolyzed‐POZO was homogeneously attached to the surfaces of MWNTs through the “grafting‐to” method. © 2010 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci, 2010