Characterization of Processing Effects in HIPS-CNF Composites Using Thermogravimetric Analysis

摘要

To completely establish the processing-structure-property relationships of polymer composites such as Carbon Nanofibers (CNFs) in high- impact polystyrene, it is necessary to understand the effects of different processes and processing conditions on the properties of the composites. In this work, using thermogravimetric analysis, the effects of solvent processing and twinscrew extrusion on the weight loss rates and the corresponding temperatures were studied. While there were only marginal effects of the CNF concentration, the type of processing significantly affected the thermo- oxidative behavior. Extrusion resulted in composites that had better thermal stability. This had important implications in choosing the appropriate process and processing conditions for producing polymer-CNF composites. It was also demonstrated that the thermogravimetric analysis can provide a means of characterizing the degree of dispersion resulting from the processing of the composites that complements conventional microscopy techniques.