Free Radical Copolymerization of Styrene and C₆₀

Abstract

C60 reacts with free radicals produced by AIBN thermal decomposition and/or propagating polystyrene radicals to form adducts or polymers with significantly modified optical properties. C60 competes with styrene for AIBN radicals acting as a free radical retarder that can be incorporated into the final polymer. In general, the weight percent of C60 in the polymer is increased at the expense of the polymer yield and molecular weight. The average number of C60 moieties per polymer is close to unity for the reaction conditions studied, but an analysis of size exclusion chromatographic traces suggests that multiple C60 moieties can be incorporated into the polymer.