Polystyrene/clay nanocomposites

Morgan, A. B. and Harris, J. D. Exfoliated polystyrene-clay nanocomposites synthesized by solvent blending with sonication, Polymer (2004), 45, 8695-8703. 

In another interesting development, Yei et al. [124] prepared POSS-polystyrene/clay nanocomposites using an emulsion polymerization technique. The emulsion polymerization for both the virgin polystyrene and the nano composite started with stirring a suspension of clay in deionized water for 4h at room temperature. A solution of surfactant ammonium salt of cetylpyridinium chloride or POSS was added and the mixture was stirred for another 4 h. Potassium hydroxide and sodium dodecyl sulphate were added into the solution and the temperature was then raised to 50 °C. Styrene monomer and potassium persulfate were later on added slowly to the flask. Polymerization was performed at 50 °C for 8 h. After cooling, 2.5% aqueous aluminium sulphate was added to the polymerized emulsion, followed by dilute hydrochloric acid, with stirring. Finally, acetone was added to break down the emulsion completely. The polymer was washed several times with methanol and distilled water and then dried overnight in a vacuum oven at 80 °C. The obtained nanocomposite was reported to be exfoliated at up to a 3 wt % content of pristine clay relative to the amount of polystyrene. 

Samakande A, Juodaityte JJ, Sanderson RD, et al. (2008) Novel cationic RAFT-mediated polystyrene/clay nanocomposites synthesis, characterization, and thermal stability. Macromol Mater Eng 293 428 37... 

Bottino, F. A., Fabbri, E., Fragala, I. L., Malandrino, G., Orestano, A., Pilati, F., and Pollicino, A. 2003. Polystyrene-clay nanocomposites prepared with polymerizable imidazolium surfactants. Macromolecular Rapid Communications 24 1079-1084. 

Figure 1.3 Permeability of water (HjO) and oxygen (O2) as a function of clay (montmorillonite) content in polystyrene-clay nanocomposite material (adapted from [22]).

Zhao J, Morgan A B and Harris J D (2005) Rheological characterization of polystyrene-clay nanocomposites to compare the degree of exfoliation and dispersion. Polymer 46 8641-8660. 

Dai G, Mishnaevsky Jr L (2013) Damage evolution in nanoclay-reinforced polymers a three-dimensional computational smdy. Compos Sci Technol 74 67—77 Durmus A, Woo M, Kas goz A, Macosko CW, Tsapatsis M (2007) htbnealated linear low density polyethylene (LLDPE)/clay nanocomposites prepared with oxidized polyethylene as a new type compatibilizer stmctural, mcehanieal and barrier properties. Eur Polym J 43 3737—3749 Pan J, Liu S, Chen G, Qi Z (2002) SEM study of polystyrene/clay nanocomposite. J Appl Polym Sci 83 66-69... 

Polystyrene/clay nanocomposites from thermally stable organoclays... 

K. Chen and S. Vyazovkin, Mechanistic differences in degradation of polystyrene and polystyrene-clay nanocomposite Thermal and thermo-oxidative degradation. Macro-molecular Chemistry and Physics, 207 (2006), 587-95. 

H.-W. Wang, K.-C. Chang, H.-C.h Chu, S.-J.Liou, and J.-M. Yeh, Significant decreased dielectric constant and loss of polystyrene-clay nanocomposite materials by using long-chain intercalation agent. Journal of Applied Polymer Science, 92 (2004), 2402-10. 

N. Greesh, P. C. Hartmann, and R. D. Sanderson, Preparation of polystyrene/clay nanocomposites by free-radical polymerization in dispersion. Macromolecular Materials and Engineering, 294 (2009), 787-94. 

A. Samakande, R. D. Sanderson, and P. C. Hartmann, RAFT-mediated polystyrene-clay nanocomposites prepared by making use of initiator-bound MMT clay. European Polymer Journal, 45 (2009), 649-57. 

J. Zhu and C. A. Wilkie, Thermal and fire smdies on polystyrene-clay nanocomposites. 

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