Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

The effects of styrenic oligomers on the thermomechanical properties of toughened polystyrene nanocomposites

  • Original Paper
  • Published:
Polymer Bulletin Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Polystyrene (PS) properties are usually tuned with the addition of elastomers and fillers to broaden the application range. However, toughening and increased tensile strength are difficult to achieve simultaneously, requiring a well-controlled particle size and distribution, as well as a good degree of intercalation and exfoliation. Therefore, the effect of the addition of a PS oligomer (PSo) to the polystyrene nanocomposite toughened with grafted Styrene–Butadiene–Styrene by maleic anhydride (SEBS-g-MA) was studied. Changes were observed in the diffractogram patterns of the nanocomposites, and a better distribution with lower alignment of the layered silicates by TEM microscopy at the presence of PSo. The storage modulus (at 25 °C) of the toughened nanocomposite increased approximately 12% when the oligomer was added. This result shows great potential to overcome the strong reduction (42%) when an elastomer is used in a PS blend. Also, increase in thermal degradation (35 °C) and impact strength (166%) were obtained.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Fig. 1
Fig. 2
Fig. 3
Fig. 4
Fig. 5

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  1. Mélo TJ, Araújo EM, Brito GF, Agrawal P (2014) Development of nanocomposites from polymer blends: effect of organoclay on the morphology and mechanical properties. J Alloy Compd 615:S389–S391

    Article  Google Scholar 

  2. Katančić Z, Travaš-Sejdić J, Hrnjak-Murgić Z (2011) Study of flammability and thermal properties of high-impact polystyrene nanocomposites. Polym Degrad Stab 96(12):2104–2111

    Article  Google Scholar 

  3. Kondo Y, Someya K, Yamada N, Kijima T (2005) Filler-induced structural order and mechanical properties of polystyrene-silica nanocomposites. J Soc Reol Jpn 33(5):273–278

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  4. Jouenne S, González-Léon JA, Ruzette A-V, Lodéfier P, Leibler L (2008) Styrene–butadiene gradient block copolymers for transparent impact polystyrene. Macromolecules 41(24):9823–9830

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  5. Fu X, Ding M, Tang C, Li B, Zhao Z, Chen DQ, Zhang Q, Fu Q, Long H, Tan T (2008) Toughening of recycled polystyrene used for TV backset. J Appl Polym Sci 109(6):3725–3732

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  6. Yang J, Fan H, Bu Z, Li BG (2009) Influence of clay and predispersion method on the structure and properties of polystyrene (PS)-clay nanocomposites. Polym Eng Sci 49(10):1937–1944

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  7. Libio IC, Grassi VG, Dal Pizzol MF, Nachtigall B, Marlí S (2012) Toughened polystyrene with improved photoresistance: effects of the compatibilizers. J Appl Polym Sci 126(1):179–185

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  8. Papageorgiou G, Achilias D, Nianias N, Trikalitis P, Bikiaris D (2013) Effect of the type of nano-filler on the crystallization and mechanical properties of syndiotactic polystyrene based nanocomposites. Thermochim Acta 565:82–94

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  9. Liu SP, Huang IJ, Chang KC, Yeh JM (2010) Mechanical properties of polystyrene-montmorillonite nanocomposites—prepared by melt intercalation. J Appl Polym Sci 115(1):288–296

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  10. Yeniova CE, Yilmazer U (2010) Characteristics of impact modified polystyrene/organoclay nanocomposites. Polym Compos 31(11):1853–1861

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  11. Yuan S, Wang X, Li Y, Long S, Huang R (2004) Study of PS/SBS/nano-CaCO3 blends. Plast Rubber Compos 33(2–3):137–140

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  12. da Silva PA, Jacobi MM, Schneider LK, Barbosa RV, Coutinho PA, Oliveira RV, Mauler RS (2010) SBS nanocomposites as toughening agent for polypropylene. Polym Bull 64(3):245–257

    Article  Google Scholar 

  13. Silvestre C, Pezzuto M, Duraccio D, Mitchell GR, Cimmino S (2017) Quiescent and shear-induced non-isothermal crystallization of isotactic polypropylene-based nanocomposites. Polym Bull 74(1):145–165

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  14. Pavlidou S, Papaspyrides C (2008) A review on polymer-layered silicate nanocomposites. Prog Polym Sci 33(12):1119–1198

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  15. Benbayer C, Saidi-Besbes S, Taffin de Givenchy E, Amigoni S, Guittard F, Derdour A (2015) Synergistic effect of organoclay fillers based on fluorinated surfmers for preparation of polystyrene nanocomposites. J Appl Polym Sci 132(33):42347

    Article  Google Scholar 

  16. Santos K, Bischoff E, Liberman S, Oviedo M, Mauler R (2011) The effects of ultrasound on organoclay dispersion in the PP matrix. Ultrason Sonochem 18(5):997–1001

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  17. Liborio P, Oliveira VA, Maria de Fatima VM (2015) New chemical treatment of bentonite for the preparation of polypropylene nanocomposites by melt intercalation. Appl Clay Sci 111:44–49

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  18. Bischoff E, dos Santos KS, Liberman SA, Mauler RS (2013) Estudo da Dispersão de Argilas Organofílicas em Nanocompósitos de Prolipropileno Obtidos pelo Método em Solução com Auxílio de Ultrassom. Polímeros 23(6):832–838

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  19. Uddin F (2008) Clays, nanoclays, and montmorillonite minerals. Metall Trans A 39(12):2804–2814

    Article  Google Scholar 

  20. Mauroy H, Plivelic TS, Hansen EL, Fossum JO, Helgesen G, Knudsen KD (2013) Effect of clay surface charge on the emerging properties of polystyrene–organoclay nanocomposites. J Phys Chem C 117(38):19656–19663

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  21. Bischoff E, Daitx T, Simon DA, Schrekker HS, Liberman SA, Mauler RS (2015) Organosilane-functionalized halloysite for high performance halloysite/heterophasic ethylene–propylene copolymer nanocomposites. Appl Clay Sci 112:68–74

    Article  Google Scholar 

  22. Ray SS, Okamoto M (2003) Polymer/layered silicate nanocomposites: a review from preparation to processing. Prog Polym Sci 28(11):1539–1641

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  23. LeBaron PC, Wang Z, Pinnavaia TJ (1999) Polymer-layered silicate nanocomposites: an overview. Appl Clay Sci 15(1):11–29

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  24. Carastan D, Demarquette N (2007) Polystyrene/clay nanocomposites. Int Mater Rev 52(6):345–380

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  25. Manias E, Chen H, Krishnamoorti R, Genzer J, Kramer E, Giannelis E (2000) Intercalation kinetics of long polymers in 2 nm confinements. Macromolecules 33(21):7955–7966

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  26. Li J, Zhou C, Wang G, Zhao D (2003) Study on kinetics of polymer melt intercalation by a rheological approach. J Appl Polym Sci 89(2):318–323

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  27. Tanoue S, Utracki LA, Garcia-Rejon A, Tatibouët J, Cole KC, Kamal MR (2004) Melt compounding of different grades of polystyrene with organoclay. Part 1: compounding and characterization. Polym Eng Sci 44(6):1046–1060

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  28. Harrats C, Groeninckx G (2008) Features, questions and future challenges in layered silicates clay nanocomposites with semicrystalline polymer matrices. Macromol Rapid Commun 29(1):14–26

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  29. Kanny K, Jawahar P, Moodley V (2008) Mechanical and tribological behavior of clay–polypropylene nanocomposites. J Mater Sci 43(22):7230–7238

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  30. Morgan AB, Gilman JW (2003) Characterization of polymer-layered silicate (clay) nanocomposites by transmission electron microscopy and X-ray diffraction: a comparative study. J Appl Polym Sci 87(8):1329–1338

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  31. Chen B, Evans JR (2008) Impact and tensile energies of fracture in polymer–clay nanocomposites. Polymer 49(23):5113–5118

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  32. Cimmino S, Duraccio D, Silvestre C, Pezzuto M (2009) Isotactic polypropylene modified with clay and hydrocarbon resin: compatibility, structure and morphology in dependence on crystallization conditions. Appl Surf Sci 256(3):S40–S45

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  33. Cimmino S, Silvestre C, Duraccio D, Pezzuto M (2011) Effect of hydrocarbon resin on the morphology and mechanical properties of isotactic polypropylene/clay composites. J Appl Polym Sci 119(2):1135–1143

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  34. Chen B, Evans JR (2011) Mechanical properties of polymer-blend nanocomposites with organoclays: polystyrene/ABS and high impact polystyrene/ABS. J Polym Sci Part B 49(6):443–454

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  35. Han CD (2009) Polymer materials: block-copolymers, nanocomposites, organic/inorganic hybrids, polymethylenes. In: Lee K (ed) On the mechanisms leading to exfoliated nanocomposites prepared by mixing. Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg, pp 1–75

  36. Greesh N, Sanderson R, Hartmann P (2012) Preparation of polystyrene–clay nanocomposites via dispersion polymerization using oligomeric styrene-montmorillonite as stabilizer. Polym Int 61(5):834–843

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  37. Ding C, Guo B, He H, Jia D, Hong H (2005) Preparation and structure of highly confined intercalated polystyrene/montmorillonite nanocomposite via a two-step method. Eur Polym J 41(8):1781–1786

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  38. Barick A, Tripathy D (2010) Thermal and dynamic mechanical characterization of thermoplastic polyurethane/organoclay nanocomposites prepared by melt compounding. Mater Sci Eng A 527(3):812–823

    Article  Google Scholar 

  39. Nayak SK, Mohanty S (2009) Dynamic mechanical, rheological, and thermal properties of intercalated polystyrene/organomontmorillonite nanocomposites: effect of clay modification on the mechanical and morphological behaviors. J Appl Polym Sci 112(2):778–787

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  40. Zhang J, Jiang DD, Wilkie CA (2006) Fire properties of styrenic polymer–clay nanocomposites based on an oligomerically-modified clay. Polym Degrad Stab 91(2):358–366

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  41. Zhang J, Jiang DD, Wilkie CA (2005) Polyethylene and polypropylene nanocomposites based upon an oligomerically modified clay. Thermochim Acta 430(1):107–113

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

Download references

Acknowledgements

The authors are grateful to CAPES, CNPq, Finep and FAPERGS/PRONEX for their financial support. The authors also wish to thank Innova S/A and Kraton Polymers do Brasil for materials supplied.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Post-graduate Program in Material Science, Institute of Chemistry, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul, UFRGS, Av. Bento Gonçalves, 9500, Porto Alegre, RS, 91501-970, Brazil

    César Pedrini Neto, Eveline Bischoff, Kelly S. Santos, Ricardo V. B. Oliveira & Raquel. S. Mauler

  2. Federal Institute of Rio Grande do Sul, IF Sul-Rio-Grandense-Campus Sapucaia do Sul, Av. Copacabana, 100, Sapucaia do Sul, RS, 93216-120, Brazil

    César Pedrini Neto

Authors
  1. César Pedrini Neto
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Eveline Bischoff
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Kelly S. Santos
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. Ricardo V. B. Oliveira
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  5. Raquel. S. Mauler
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Raquel. S. Mauler.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this article

Neto, C.P., Bischoff, E., Santos, K.S. et al. The effects of styrenic oligomers on the thermomechanical properties of toughened polystyrene nanocomposites. Polym. Bull. 75, 569–580 (2018). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00289-017-2053-8

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Revised:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00289-017-2053-8

Keywords

Search

Navigation