Utilization of Anthracene-Functionalized Poly(2-oxazolines) as a Dispersant of Carbon Black in Water and Dodecane

Poly(2-oxazoline)s (POxs) offer an unparalleled degree of functionalization in the fabrication of smart, functional polymers for a wide range of applications. By utilizing 2-ethyl-2-oxazoline and a unique hydrophobic 2-oxazoline monomer, 2-isostearyl-2-oxazoline, we report the synthesis of a library of functionalized poly(2-ethyl-2-oxazoline)s (PEtOxs) and poly(2-isostearyl-2-oxazoline)s (PiStOxs) that show incredible potential as dispersants of carbon black (CB) in water and dodecane. The initiation and termination of 2-oxazoline polymerizations by direct end-capping can be exploited to introduce a variety of end-groups. Herein, we utilize this methodology to report the efficient synthesis of anthracene-end-capped PEtOx and PiStOx. A small library of 9-(chloromethyl)anthracene-initiated polymers was also synthesized to increase the aromaticity to investigate its influence on the dispersion of CB. The solution behavior of the polymers in aqueous and nonaqueous media is studied via turbidity measurement, and their ability to disperse CB in water and dodecane systems is assessed by a UV–vis spectrophotometer. PEtOx and PiStOx both display characteristics of a good dispersant, and PiStOx exhibits better performance than a commercially available dispersant, presenting superior results than previously reported for POx.