Buckminsterfullerene: A Strong, Covalently Bonded, Reinforcing Filler and Reversible Cross-Linker in the Form of Clusters in a Polymer
文摘
A Buckminsterfullerene/polyisoprene (Cb>60b>/PI) composite was synthesized at high-temperature, high-pressure (HP&HT) conditions. The composite has significantly improved tensile strength and Young鈥檚 modulus, by up to 49% and 88% per wt % Cb>60b>, respectively, which is much higher than for corresponding composites with carbon nanotube (CNT) fillers. The reinforcing action of Cb>60b> fillers is different from that of CNTs as Cb>60b> becomes covalently bonded to PI chains, and Cb>60b> clusters in PI form Cb>60b>鈥揅b>60b> covalent bonds. The latter are reversible and break by heating at 1 bar, which suggests improved recyclability of the material and indicates that carbon nanostructures can be used as strong reversible cross-linkers (鈥渧ulcanizers鈥? in elastomers.