Structure and crystallization behaviour of syndiotactic polystyrene/layered double hydroxide nanocomposites. Issue 3 (4th January 2016)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Nagendra, Baku; Das, Amit; Leuteritz, Andreas; Gowd, E Bhoje
• Is Part Of: Polymer international. Volume 65:Issue 3(2016:Mar.)
• Page Start: 299
• Page End: 307
• Publication Date: 2016-01-04
• Subjects: layered double hydroxides -- nanocomposites -- syndiotactic polystyrene -- crystallization -- flame retardancy; Plastics -- Periodicals; Polymers -- Periodicals; Polymerization -- Periodicals; 547.7
• DOI: 10.1002/pi.5055
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0959-8103

Abstract

Abstract : Highly dispersed polymer nanocomposites were prepared by solution blending method. The influence of surfactant free LDH particles on the crystallization behavior and flame retardant properties of syndiotactic polystyrene are investigated. Abstract: Syndiotactic polystyrene (sPS) based polymer nanocomposites have been prepared using surfactant‐free layered double hydroxides (SF‐LDHs) by a modified solvent mixing method with different loadings of 1, 2.5, 5 and 10 wt%. The nanocomposite preparation process involves a wash treatment of as‐prepared SF‐LDHs in an appropriate organic solvent followed by gel formation in a non‐polar solvent. The gel was directly used to make highly dispersed polymer nanocomposites. The influence of highly dispersed SF‐LDH platelets on the crystallization, polymorphism, thermal stability and flame retardancy of sPS was examined. It was shown that SF‐LDHs significantly enhance the crystallization rate of sPS and favour the formation of the thermodynamically stable β form along with the α form of sPS. Moreover, highly dispersed SF‐LDHs decrease the heat release rate and total heat release of sPS indicating the enhancement of flame‐retardant properties of sPS. In this way, it was found that the dispersed SF‐LDH platelets act as a multifunctional nanofiller for sPS. © 2015 Society of Chemical Industry