Thermal stability of polystyrene nanocomposites from improved thermally stable organoclays

MUSA R. KAMAL AND JORGE URIBE-CALDERON Department of Chemical Engineering, McGill University 

Polymer/clay nanocomposites exhibit remarkable improvement in material properties relative to unfilled polymers or conventional composites. These improvements can include increased tensile modulus, mechanical strength, and heat resistance and reduced gas permeability and flammability [1], There are various methods of preparing polymer/clay nanocomposites (i) in situ polymerization, (ii) solution intercalation, (iii) melt intercalation, and (iv) in situ template synthesis [2], 

In this chapter, we shall deal mainly with montmorillonite (MMT) clay and with organo-clays and polymer/clay nanocomposites containing polystyrene (PS) as the matrix and incorporating MMT as the clay. 

Understanding the relationship between the molecular structure and the thermal stability (decomposition temperature and rate) of the organoclays and the subsequent influence on the stability of the polymer host is critical. Several analytical techniques have been used to determine the thermal stability of different organoclays and to indentify the decomposition products conventional and high-resolution thennogravimetric analysis (TGA) coupled with Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FITR) and mass spectrometry (MS), pyrolysis/gas chromatography (GC)-MS, and solid phase microextraction (SPME) [6-12]. 

The degradation and/or release of the intercalated surfactants in the galleries can promote the collapse of the interlayer spacing and changes in the surface characteristics. The thermal stability of organoclays depends on the type and concentration of surfactants and the interlayer structure [17]. 

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Thermal stability of polystyrene nanocomposites from improved thermally stable organoclays... 

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