Suspension polymerization in the presence of graphite has been studied in order to determine the effects of some operational parameters on the particle size distribution (PSD). The results showed that, with increasing graphite content, the particle size of the polystyrene/graphite (PS/G) beads increased. Moreover, instability of the suspension polymerization system was found at high amounts of graphite. With increasing initiator concentration, the particle size of the polymer beads increased and the PSD became slightly narrower. Changing the concentration of the suspending agent proved to be an efficient way of controlling the particle size, although its increase led to a broadening of the PSD. Adding the suspending agent in two portions at different times decreased the particle size, maintained a lower concentration of suspending agent, and kept the suspension polymerization system stable. Adjusting the stirring speed proved to be a very efficient means of manipulating the PSD of the PS/G composite beads. The Sauter mean diameter decreased and the PSD was broadened with increasing stirring speed; 400 rpm was identified as an appropriate value to obtain polystyrene/graphite beads with desirable particle size and distribution.
In this work, polystyrene (PS)/triphenyl phosphate (TPP) nanocomposites were prepared by suspension polymerization. The TPP dissolved firstly in styrene monomer, and then suspension polymerization was carried out. The results showed that TPP nanoparticles, being about 50 nm spheres, were homogeneously and uniformly dispersed in a PS matrix, which was first reported. Furthermore, the formation mechanism of TPP nanoparticles was simulated by the dissipative particle dynamics (DPD) method. The flame retardance of the PS/TPP nanocomposite was significantly improved, which was attributed to the nanodispersion of TPP particles in the PS matrix.
Preparation of polystyrene nanocomposites containing flame retardants is difficult to achieve in one step by suspension polymerization. Styrene suspension polymerization was studied to determine the effects of the flame retardant on the polymerization process and properties of polystyrene beads. Triphenyl phosphate (TPP) was used in this work, which can dissolve completely in styrene monomers. The results showed that TPP were nanosized spherical particles, distributed homogenously and uniformly in a polystyrene (PS) matrix, and the formation mechanism of TPP nanoparticles was also investigated. In addition, the effects of TPP on the styrene polymerization process were investigated. With TPP amount increasing, the polymerization time increased significantly; molecular weight of PS nanocomposites also decreased and molecular weight distribution became wide; the particle size distribution (PSD) of the PS nanocomposites became wider than pure PS slightly as the particle size decreased. PS/TPP nanocomposites obtained good flame retardance because of nanodispersed TPP particles in its matrix. In a word, the suspension polymerization method provides a facile approach to prepare PS/TPP nanocomposites with better properties.
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