Fabrication and characterization of graphene oxide modified polycarboxylic by in situ polymerization

Graphene oxide (GO) was modified by in situ esterification reaction with isopentenol polyoxyethylene ether (IPEG) to obtain GO precursor (GO-IPEG) with some polymerization activity. GO-modified polycarboxylic (GO-PCE) was prepared by GO-IPEG and acrylic acid (AA) using the method of in situ polymerization. The molecular structure of GO-IPEG and GO-PCE was characterized by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), Raman spectra, and nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR). The dispersion properties and dispersion stability of GO-IPEG and GO-PCE in water solution were studied by ultraviolet–visible (UV–vis) absorption spectra, zeta potential, and atomic force microscope. The results of FTIR, Raman, 1 H-NMR, and 13 C-NMR indicate that IPEG was successfully grafted onto the surface of GO and then fabricated with AA by in situ free-radical polymerization. The results of UV–vis and zeta potential show that GO nanosheets have a better dispersion in GO-IPEG or GO-PCE system when the reaction time of GO and IPEG is 1 h, and the dispersion stability can reach up to 1 month. The better dispersion and application property are confirmed by atomic force microscopy image and cement fluidity, water reducing rate, and compression strength. © 2019 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Appl. Polym. Sci. 2019 , 136 , 48316.