Grafting polystyrene with various graft densities through epoxy groups of graphene nanolayers via atom transfer radical polymerization

A double bond and amine group containing chemical (OD) was synthesized by coupling reaction of ethylenediamine and 3‐(chlorodimethylsilyl)propyl methacrylate. Subsequently, graphene oxide (GO) was functionalized with OD in different densities via ring opening of its epoxy groups. The graphene containing double bond (GOD) was incorporated into polystyrene (PS) chains by a grafting through atom transfer radical polymerization. Grafting of OD at the surface of GO was confirmed by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy and thermogravimetric analysis (TGA). The interlayer spacing of the graphenes was evaluated by X‐ray diffraction. Molecular weight and PDI values of the free and attached PS chains were studied by size exclusion chromatography. TGA was also used to study the degradation points, char values, and grafting ratios. Relaxation of PS chains in the presence of graphene layers was evaluated by differential scanning calorimetry. Scanning electron and transmission electron microscopies show that flat graphene layers are wrinkled during oxidation and functionalization processes. POLYM. COMPOS., 38:2450–2458, 2017. © 2015 Society of Plastics Engineers