Free radical copolymerization of styrene and C-60

C-60 reacts with free radicals produced by AIBN thermal decomposition and/or propagating polystyrene radicals to form adducts or polymers with significantly modified optical properties. C-60 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 C-60 in the polymer is increased at the expense of the polymer yield and molecular weight. The average number of C-60 moieties per polymer is close to unity for the reaction conditions studied, but an analysis of size exclusion chromatographic traces suggests that multiple C-60 moieties can be incorporated into the polymer.