Toughness and morphology of radiation‐crosslinked natural rubber modified polystyrene

Abstract

γ‐Radiation vulcanized natural rubber (RVNR)/phase transfer/suspension polymerization technique was used to prepare high‐impact polystyrene (HIPS) in bead form. The high notched Izod impact resistance of HIPS based on RVNR was observed and compared with that of unmodified PS. The impact resistance of HIPS based on RVNR was further enhanced by addition of 10% of polystyrene‐block‐polyisoprene‐block‐polystyrene copolymer. A mesh structure of all crosslinked rubber particles containing polystyrene and long crazes in HIPS were observed under electron microscopy. Copyright © 2003 Society of Chemical Industry

Preparation of Green High Impact Polystyrene Beads via Suspension Polymerization

“…Polystyrene (PS) has been well known that it is brittleness resulting its low impact strength. Many researchers have tried to improve the toughness of PS by incorporating with reinforcing inorganic fillers or blending with elastomers such as butadiene rubber (BR), natural rubber (NR), SNR, and ethylene propylene diene rubber (EPDM) . The obtained product produced by adding the rubbers in a styrene (ST) monomer is called as “High Impact Polystyrene (HIPS)”.…”

“…HIPS has multiphase structure consisting of rubber granules (1–3 μm) dispersed in the rigid PS matrix . Additionally, the distribution of the rubber particles in the polymer matrix is bimodal leading the enhancement of high impact resistance …”

“…Due to the rise of environmental consciousness, universality and low cost, NR has been attractive to totally or partially replace the products derived from petroleums. Although several articles have investigated the development thermal properties and mechanical properties in PS/NR blend . The relationship of parameters for the synthesis of HIPS via suspension polymerization has not been statistical studied and reported.…”

Caracterização morfológica do poliestireno de alto impacto (HIPS)

“…Como o HIPS é um material polimérico composto de múltiplos componentes e múltiplas camadas, com fases vítreas e borrachosas, o bom desempenho do material modificado depende de diversos parâmetros [7,8] . Um parâmetro relacionado à fase vítrea (matriz) seria a massa molecular, pois ela influencia no tipo de processamento, na forma como as cadeias estão organizadas (em faixas estreitas ou largas)…”