Synthesis and characterization of polystyrene clay nanocomposites

Nanocomposites provide high mechanical strength, lower permeability for organic volatiles, water and oxygen, electric conductivity and isolation, fireproof, chemical preservation, transparency, smooth surface, elasticity for the applied surfaces. Polystyrene/clay is one of these nanocomposites. Clay is most commonly used mineral for nanocomposite production, since it consists of layers and these layers are dispersed easily at appropriate conditions. Clay is commonly used at the polymer industry in order to improve the physical and mechanical properties of the polymers. As clay with layers is supplemented into polymer matrix, additional properties like fireproof, high strength and barrier will be obtained. Polystyrene/clay nanocomposite is commonly used as isolation material in thin walls, cooling towers, pipes, foams, rubber materials, automobile parts, panels and plastic components of electronic parts.In this experimental study, two different production method and two different production conditions were used to obtain polymeric nanocomposites. Production methods were in situ polymerization and melt intercalation. Experiments were performed at constant 1000C and 1050C temperatures. System temperature was kept constant with self-tuning PID controller and visiDAQ program was used to observe the temperature. After obtaining nanocomposites, firstly % monomer conversion and viscosity average molecular weights were calculated and then characterization studies were performed.At the nanocomposite material characterization phase, structural, thermal, mechanical properties and surface characterization were investigated. Temogravimetrik analysis (TGA) was used to determine thermal properties; Transmission Electron Microscopy (TEM) was used to determine surface characterization. Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) was used for structural analysis. Shore D hardness measurement method was used in the evaluation of mechanical properties. As a result of the characterization study, FTIR method nanocomposites produced both with in situ polymerization and melt intercalation had almost the same frequency spectrums peaks. TGA thermograms showed that as the clay composition increased, decomposition temperatures of the nanocomposites also incereased.Surface characterization of the produced nanocomposites were examined with the TEM method, polymer-clay interfacial interactions were observed to be high and the clay layers within the polymer phase, completely distorting the structure of accretion maximum dispersed regular situation, ie dispersed (exfoliated) structure was found. Characterization studies showed that nanocomposites produced by melt intercalation method had better properties.