Preparation and Characterization of Poly (Styrene-Co-Maleic Anhydride)-Modified Boron Particles

Abstract

The surface modification of boron powder with poly (styrene-co-maleic anhydride) (SMA) has been achieved through the reactions between the hydroxy groups on the surface of boron and the maleic anhydride groups in SMA. This novel polymerically modified boron was characterized using IR, TGA, TEM, and laser grain size analyzer. Experimental results from IR analysis indicated that the surface of boron was successfully modified by SMA, and TGA data analysis indicated that the amount of SMA on the boron surface was about 10% of this modified boron. TEM images of this surface modified boron indicated that the morphology of boron after modification has also been changed from an aggregated form to separated particles. The average particle size of the boron after modification was significantly increased from 2.7 to 3.7 µm in ethanol, which was obtained from the laser grain size analysis. The solvent dispersion of this modified boron was also tested. Experimental result indicated that this polymerically modified boron powder could form a well dispersed and stable suspension in chloroform due to presence of poly (styrene-co-maleic anhydride) on the surface of boron.

Keywords:

• Amorphous boron powder
• dispersion test
• poly (styrene-co-maleic anhydride)
• surface modification

Acknowledgments

This work was supported by the Xiaoxiang scholar foundation, Hunan Normal University, grant number: Chem 050613. The authors thank Jianghe Chemical Plant for amorphous boron powder.