Application of Trialkylimidazolium Liquids and Salts to the Preparation of Polymer-Layered Silicate Nanocomposites and Polymer-Carbon Nanotube Nanocomposites

摘要

Polymer - layered silicate and polystyrene - carbon nanotube nanocomposites have been prepared via melt-blending. The thermal stability was analyzed using thermal gravimetric analysis and the extent of nanoparticle dispersion has been examined using powder x-ray diffraction (XRD) and transmission electron microscopy (TEM). Phase behavior of polystyrene nanocomposites were characterized using differential scanning calorimetry (DSC). The imidazolium salts used in this study were found to greatly expand the gallery d-spacing of montmorillonite to produce nanocomposites with a predominantly intercalated structure and to greatly improve the dispersion of MWNT in polystyrene to produce polymers with superior thermal properties.