Abstract
The dispersibility of diamond has been improved by reforming its surface with 2-propanol-2-yl [(CH3)(2)(COH)-O-center dot] radicals. These radicals were produced by the photochemical breakdown of 1-[4-(2-hydroxyethoxy)-phenyl]-2-hydroxy2-methyl-1-propane-1-one (HPHMP) under ultraviolet (UV) radiations. The diamond particles were mixed with HPHMP in acetone and were placed under UV rays for the generation of required free radicals which were in situ reformed the diamond surface. Fourier transform infrared, nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) confirmed the structural and surface reforming of diamond. The thermogravimetric analysis, thermogravimetric analysis-mass spectrometry spectrogram confirmed the surface reforming of diamond with 2-propanol-2-yl radicals. The dispersion behavior of the diamond after reforming was observed by SEM analysis and revealed an improvement in dispersibility in common solvents.