Alumina‐filled polystyrene micro‐ and nanocomposites prepared by melt mixing with and without latex precompounding: Structure and properties

Abstract

Alumina fillers were incorporated in polystyrene (PS) in 4.5 wt % by melt blending with and without latex precompounding. Latex precompounding was used for the latex-mediated predispersion of the alumina particles. The related masterbatch was produced by mixing PS latex with water dispersible boehmite alumina in various particle sizes followed by drying. The dispersion of the alumina in the PS was studied by transmission and scanning electron microscopy (TEM and SEM, respectively). The mechanical and thermomechanical properties of the PS composites were determined in uniaxial tensile, dynamic-mechanical thermal analysis (DMTA), and shorttime creep tests performed at various temperatures. In addition, the melt flow of the composites was characterized in a plate/plate rheometer. It was found that direct melt mixing of the alumina with PS resulted in micro-, whereas the masterbatch technique in nanocomposites. The stiffness and resistance to creep (summarized in master curves) of the nanocomposites were improved compared to those of the microcomposites. The properties of the composites were upgraded by decreasing nominal size of the water dispersible alumina. The preparation technique and the size of the alumina particles affected the tensile strength, melt viscosity, and heat distortion temperature in lesser extent than the stiffness and thus compliance data.

Isotactic Poly(propylene) Nanocomposites Based upon Boehmite Nanofillers

“…Few papers addressed the investigation of polymeric nanocomposites based upon dispersed boehmite nanoparticles. [14][15][16][17][18][19][20] The objective of this research was to study the influence of boehmite crystallite sizes, varied between 10 and 60 nm, on morphology, thermal and mechanical properties of poly(propylene) nanocomposites.…”

Nanofilled and/or toughened POM composites produced by water-mediated melt compounding: Structure and mechanical properties

“…Water-mediated melt compounding techniques to disperse various nano-and microfillers were already tried for various thermoplastic systems, such as polypropylene and clay [8], low density polyethylene and cellulose [9]. However, the use of latices to produce nanofiller containing masterbatches for subsequent melt compounding has received far less attention up to now [10,11]. The present work addresses the toughening and reinforcement of polyoxymethylene (POM) via a water-mediated melt compounding technique which allows producing nanocomposites with additional toughening.…”

Polyethylene/synthetic boehmite alumina nanocomposites: Structure, thermal and rheological properties

“…The reinforcing and property modification potential of micro-and nanometer-scaled BA, with and without additional surface treatment, has been already checked in various thermoplastics (e.g. [2][3][4][5][6][7][8][9][10][11][12][13]). Polyethylenes (PEs) were often modified in the past with nanofillers, like layered silicates in order to improve their mechanical, and especially barrier properties.…”