US 12,384,867 B2
Spherical particles comprising carbon nanomaterial-graft-polymer and methods of production and uses thereof
Valerie M. Farrugia, Oakville (CA); and Shivanthi Easwari Sriskandha, Mississauga (CA)
Assigned to Xerox Corporation, Norwalk, CT (US)
Filed by Xerox Corporation, Norwalk, CT (US)
Filed on Mar. 13, 2024, as Appl. No. 18/603,343.
Application 18/603,343 is a continuation of application No. 17/321,997, filed on May 17, 2021, granted, now 12,264,214.
Prior Publication US 2024/0247092 A1, Jul. 25, 2024
Int. Cl. C08J 3/12 (2006.01); C08F 292/00 (2006.01); C08J 3/205 (2006.01); C08L 77/06 (2006.01)
CPC C08F 292/00 (2013.01) [C08L 77/06 (2013.01)] 14 Claims
 
1. A method comprising:
providing a mixture comprising:
(a) carbon nanomaterial-graft-polyolefin (CNM-g-polyolefin), wherein the CNM-g-polyolefin comprises a polyolefin grafted to a carbon nanomaterial (CNM) by a direct covalent bond, the CNM-g-polyolefin being produced by in-situ free radical functionalization,
(b) a carrier fluid that is immiscible with the polyolefin of the CNM-g-polyolefin, optionally (c) a thermoplastic polymer not grafted to a CNM, and optionally (d) an emulsion stabilizer;
shearing the mixture at a temperature greater than a melting point or softening temperature of the polyolefin and the thermoplastic polymer, when included, and at a shear rate sufficiently high to disperse the CNM-g-polyolefin in the carrier fluid;
cooling the mixture to below the melting point or softening temperature to form CNM-g-polyolefin particles; and
separating the CNM-g-polyolefin particles from the carrier fluid;
wherein the CNM-g-polyolefin particles have a circularity of about 0.90 to about 1.0.