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Thermal and microstructural characterization of compatibilized polystyrene/natural fillers composites

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Abstract

Composites of polystyrene (PS) with cellulose microfibres and oat particles, obtained by melt mixing, were examined. The compatibilization of the composites was carried out by addition of maleic anhydride-functionalized copolymers (SEBS-g-MA, PS-co-MA) and poly(ethylene glycol) to improve the fibre–matrix interfacial interactions. The plain components and their composites were characterised by FT-IR, DSC, TGA, SEM microscopy and mechanical tests. The properties of the various systems were analysed as a function of both fibre and compatibilizer amount. The compatibilized PS composites showed enhanced fibre dispersion and interfacial adhesion as a consequence of chemical interactions between the anhydride groups on the polymer chains and the hydroxyl groups on the fibres, as demonstrated by FT-IR spectroscopy. DSC analysis pointed out a neat increase of T g of composites on addition of SEBS-g-MA, as compared to PS-co-MA. The thermal stability of composites was also influenced by the type and amount of fibres, as well as by the structure and concentration of compatibilizer. The effect of the reactive copolymers on the composites properties was accounted for on the basis of the polymer–polymer miscibility and chemical interactions at the matrix/filler interface.

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Acknowledgements

The authors are grateful to Mr. Piero Narducci, Department of Chemical Engineering and Materials Science, University of Pisa, Italy, for his contribution to the SEM analysis of the composites.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Institute of Composite and Biomedical Materials, IMCB-CNR, Via Diotisalvi 2, 56122, Pisa, Italy

    Mariano Pracella

  2. Department of Chemical Engineering, Industrial Chemistry and Materials Science, University of Pisa, 56126, Pisa, Italy

    Cristiano Pancrazi & Md. Minhaz-Ul Haque

  3. Department of Chemistry and Industrial Chemistry, University of Pisa, 56126, Pisa, Italy

    Aldo D’Alessio

Authors
  1. Mariano Pracella
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  2. Cristiano Pancrazi
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  3. Md. Minhaz-Ul Haque
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  4. Aldo D’Alessio
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Correspondence to Mariano Pracella.

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Pracella, M., Pancrazi, C., Minhaz-Ul Haque, M. et al. Thermal and microstructural characterization of compatibilized polystyrene/natural fillers composites. J Therm Anal Calorim 103, 95–101 (2011). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10973-010-1064-6

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10973-010-1064-6

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