High Performance Multifunctional Polystyrene Nanocomposites

In this paper, the high performance polystyrene (PS) [1] polymer nanocomposites (PNCs) have been fabricated by a solvent extraction method [2] filled with various Fe₃O₄nanoparticles (NPs) and carbon nanofibers (CNFs) loading levels. The effects of nanofillers loading levels on the morphology, thermal stability, crystalline phase, thermomechanical properties, melt rheological behaviors, flammability, magnetic properties and dielectric properties were systematically studied. The good nanofillers dispersion and strong interfacial interaction between nanofillers and PS matrix are observed by scanning electron microscope (SEM). The increased thermal stability of PNCs is observed by thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) with increasing the CNFs loading. Furthermore, nanofillers have an affirmative influence on the thermomechanical and flammable properties of PNCs based on the strong interaction between the nanofillers and PS matrix. Meanwhile, the nanofillers have effectively improved the melt rheological behaviors and dielectric property of the PNCs. This work demonstrates a facile and cost-effective approach to construct the good dispersion and strong  interfacial interaction between nanofillers and polymer matrix, which enhances the properties of PS matrix.

[1] X. Yan, Q. He, X. Zhang, H. Gu, H. Chen, Q. Wang, L. Sun, S. Wei and Z. Guo; Magnetic Polystyrene Nanocomposites Reinforced with Magnetite Nanoparticles; Macromolecular Materials and Engineering, 299(4), 485-494 (2014)

[2] X. Chen, S. Wei, Y. Atarsingh, R. Patil, J. Zhu, R. Ximenes, L. Sun and Z. Guo; Poly(propylene)/Carbon Nanofiber Nanocomposites: Ex Situ Solvent-Assisted Preparation and Analysis of Electrical and Electronic Properties; Macromolecular Materials and Engineering, 296 (5), 434-443 (2011)