The investigation of composite obtained from nanosilicate and polystyrene produced in polymerization reactor with temperature control

Natural and synthetic polymers with polymer materials are used in many areas in various industries in our life. The main objective in polymerization processes is to produce polymer of desired quality. Product quality depends on the molecular weight and molecular weight distribution. Since reactors are strongly influenced by the reactor process conditions, in order to obtain a product at desired quality, reactor process conditions must be optimized and controlled.Nanotechnology gives the researchers the chance to change the structure of the materials on the molecular scale. Researchers can build up new desing of molecules to achieve several functionalities. Different gas and water permeabilities can be obtained. By adding nanoparticles, packages can be more light and fire resistant, can have stronger mechanical and thermal performance, high gas barrier functionalities.In this study, optimum reactor temperature for the desired conversion and molecular weight in minumum time was track using self-tuning PID controller. To find optimal tuning parameters of controller, genetic algorithm was used.This study is contructed with two experimental steps. In the first experimental step, polystyrene was optained in batch polymerization reactor with control and without control. In this step, styrene, toluene and benzoyl peroxide were used as monomer, solvent and initiator, respectively. In the second experimental step, nanosilica composite particles were obtained in various ratios from the nanosilicate and polystyrene obtained in controlled and noncontrolled reactor.Polystyrene / silica nanocomposite particles were characterized by means of differential scanning calorimeter (DSC) and thermogravimetric analysis (TGA). The fracture surface of the composite material was examined by using scanning electron microscope (SEM). The molecular weight of polystyrene were determined by viscosity. Mechanical properties of composite materials were determined from strength tests were conducted.The strength values of the composite materials, increase with increasing nanosilika content. The thermal stability of composites increased and results are resistance of thermal, the results taken from the TGA and DSC thermograms supported the increase in thermal resistance.