Influence of Processing Technique on the Physical Properties of Modified Polystyrene/Exfoliated Graphite Nanocomposites

摘要

This work examines the effect of exfoliated graphite (Exf-G) addition on mechanical, thermal, and non-flammability properties of polystyrene, nitro-polystyrene (PS-NO2), and amino-polystyrene (PS-NH2) by solution and melt processing. Exfoliated graphite yielded unique morphology in solution formed PS-NH2/Exf-G composites. Tensile strength of solution PS-NH2/Exf-G (30.1-53.2MPa) was enhanced compared with melt route. Addition of Exf-G also improved T-10 of solution processed PS-NH2/F-G 0.01-0.5 composites as 455-502 degrees C. Cone calorimetry results showed that PS-NH2/Exf-G 0.5 formed by solution route had lower peak heat release rate (PHRR) value (434kW/m(2)). Physical properties of solution caste systems were enhanced relative to melt systems depicting advantage of technique used.