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 fle xible polymers. X-ray powder diffractometry; results reveal that the face-c entered-cubic (fcc) structure of C-60 expands to a primitive hexagonal stru cture 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 polystyre ne, whereas the dodecylated ones clearly modify polystyrene by lowering the glass transition temperature. (C) 1999 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights re served.