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6594208 
Journal Article 
Grafting of polymers onto a carbon-fiber surface by ligand-exchange reaction of poly(vinyl ferrocene-co-vinyl monomer) with polycondensed aromatic rings of the surface 
Tsubokawa, N; Abe, N; Wei, G; Chen, JH; Saitoh, S; Fujiki, K; , 
2002 
Yes 
Journal of Polymer Science. Part A, Polymer Chemistry
ISSN: 0887-624X
EISSN: 1099-0518 
JOHN WILEY & SONS INC 
HOBOKEN 
1868-1875 
WOS:000175550700022 
To improve the surface of carbon fiber, the grafting reaction of copolymer containing vinyl ferrocene (VFE) onto a carbon-fiber surface by a ligand-exchange reaction between ferrocene moieties of the copolymer and polycondensed aromatic rings of carbon fiber was investigated. The copolymer containing VFE was prepared by the radical copolymerization of VFE with vinyl monomers, such as methyl methacrylate (MMA) and styrene, using 2,2'-azobisisobutyronitrile as an initiator. By heating the carbon fiber with poly(VFE-co-MMA) (number-average molecular weight: 2.1 X 10(4)) in the presence of aluminum chloride and aluminum powder, the copolymer was grafted onto the surface. The percentage of grafting reached 46.1%. On the contrary, in the absence of aluminum chloride, no grafting of the copolymer was observed. Therefore, it is considered that the copolymer was grafted onto the carbon-fiber surface by a ligand-exchange reaction between ferrocene moieties of the copolymer and polycondensed aromatic rings of carbon fiber. The molar number of grafted polymer chain on the carbon-fiber surface decreased with increasing molecular weight of poly(VFE-co-MMA) because the steric hindrance of grafted copolymer on the carbon-fiber surface increases with increasing molecular weight of poly(VFE-co-MMA). (C) 2002 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.