Preparation and characterization of poly(sodium 4-styrenesulfonate)-decorated hydrophilic carbon black by one-step in situ ball milling

A one-step method for preparing poly(sodium 4-styrenesulfonate) (PSS)-decorated hydrophilic carbon black (CB), via in situ peeling of large CB aggregates into small pieces at room temperature, was investigated. The Raman spectroscopy results indicated that ball milling could only break large CB aggregates into small pieces but without changing its structure, while the structure of CB was significantly changed with the existence of PSS. The results of Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, transmission electron microscope, energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy and natural sedimentation experimental all showed that the CB was successfully coated by PSS and yielded an excellent stability in water. The backbones of PSS were coated onto the CB surface under strong π–π interactions with an encapsulation ratio of 12.7 wt%. The resulting PSS-decorated CB displayed an extraordinary stability in water with an average size of 221 nm and zeta potential of −33.8 mV, far outstripping the pristine CB and ball milled CB without PSS.