The influence of Buckminsterfullerenes and their derivatives on polymer properties

Dodecylated C(60) {(Dod)(n)C(60)(H)(n)} and butylated C(60) {(Bu)(n)C(60)(H)(n)} were synthesized and used along with C(60) to modify the properties of flexible polymers. X-ray powder diffractometry; results reveal that the face-centered-cubic (fcc) structure of C(60) expands to a primitive hexagonal structure upon butylation, and to a layered structure upon dodecylation. These molecules were then used as additives for a synthetic polymer, polystyrene. Unsubstituted C(60) increases the glass transition temperature of polystyrene, whereas the dodecylated ones clearly modify polystyrene by lowering the glass transition temperature. (C) 1999 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.