abstract |
A nonlimiting example method of forming highly spherical carbon nanomaterial-graft-polyolefin (CNM-g-polyolefin) particles may comprising: mixing a mixture comprising: (a) a CNM-g-polyolefin comprising a polyolefin grafted to a carbon nanomaterial, (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 at a temperature greater than a melting point or softening temperature of the polyolefin of the CNM-g-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 the CNM-g-polyolefin particles; and separating the CNM-g-polyolefin particles from the carrier fluid. |