Graphite oxide as a carbocatalyst for the preparation of fullerene-reinforced polyester and polyamide nanocomposites

• DOI: 10.1039/c2py00545j
• Publication Date: 2012-01-18T16:13:32Z
• Authors: Daniel R. Dreyer; Karalee A. Jarvis; Paulo J. Ferreira; Christopher W. Bi...
• Keywords: Graphite oxide; Carbon fibers

Graphite oxide (GO) was discovered to catalyze the ring opening polymerization of various cyclic lactones and lactams, such as ε-caprolactone, δ-valerolactone, ε-caprolactam, their corresponding polyesters or polyamides. The resulting polymers were obtained in moderate number average molecular weights (4.8–12.8 kDa) good excellent yields (39–100%) at GO loadings ranging from 2.5–20.0 wt%. Using powder X-ray diffraction (PXRD) transmission electron microscopy (TEM), it determined that carbon catalyst retained homogeneously dispersed within polymer product, formation a carbon-filled composite. TEM also revealed transitioned lamellar morphology found primarily nanometre-sized, multiwalled fullerenes; no other discrete morphologies observed. inclusion material improve mechanical stiffness by up 400%, compared neat homopolymer.