Effect of Compatibilizer on Impact Strength and Morphology of Polystyrene/Zinc Oxide Nanocomposites

Abstract:

This article investigated the effects of particle size of zinc oxide (ZnO) and polystyrene-co-maleic anhydride (SMA) compatibilizer on impact strength and morphology of polystyrene (PS)/ZnO71 (71 nm) and PS/ZnO250 (250 nm) nanocomposites. PS/ZnO nanocomposites with varying concentration of ZnO and SMA were prepared by a melt mixing technique in a twin screw extruder. It was found that the impact strength of PS nanocomposites increased up to a ZnO content of 1.0 wt%. Moreover, PS/ZnO250 nanocomposites had higher impact strength than PS/ZnO71 nanocomposites. The addition of SMA increased the impact strength of PS/ZnO nanocomposites with increasing SMA content. The result showed that SMA could improve impact strength of nanocomposites. The dispersion of ZnO particles on PS/ZnO nanocomposites was studied by scanning electron microscope (SEM). It was observed that the dispersion of ZnO particles of PS/ZnO nanocomposites without SMA was non-uniform and the agglomeration of ZnO particles in the polymer matrix increased with increasing ZnO content. The dispersion of ZnO particles of PS/ZnO nanocomposites after adding SMA was relatively good and only few aggregations exist. These observations support the results of the impact test where the PS/ZnO nanocomposites with SMA displayed higher impact strength than the PS/ZnO nanocomposites without SMA. The study showed that SMA was used as a compatibilizer to improve the dispersability and compatibility of ZnO particles in PS matrix.

• Periodical: Advanced Materials Research (Volume 545)
• Pages: 330-334
• DOI: https://doi.org/10.4028/www.scientific.net/AMR.545.330
• Online since: July 2012
• Authors: Sirirat Wacharawichanant, Pranee Saetun, Thunwawon Lekkong, Thongyai Supakanok
• Keywords: Compatibilizer, Composite, Impact Strength, Polystyrene, Zinc Oxide (ZnO)

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