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Preparation of syndiotactic polystyrene/montmorillonite nanocomposites via in situ intercalative polymerization of styrene with monotitanocene catalyst
Author(s) -
Shen Zhigang,
Zhu Fangming,
Liu Dan,
Zeng Xiguo,
Lin Shangan
Publication year - 2005
Publication title -
journal of applied polymer science
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.575
H-Index - 166
eISSN - 1097-4628
pISSN - 0021-8995
DOI - 10.1002/app.21369
Subject(s) - montmorillonite , materials science , nanocomposite , thermogravimetric analysis , polystyrene , exfoliation joint , polymer chemistry , differential scanning calorimetry , polymerization , styrene , in situ polymerization , crystallinity , chemical engineering , thermal decomposition , copolymer , polymer , composite material , chemistry , organic chemistry , nanotechnology , graphene , physics , engineering , thermodynamics
Syndiotactic polystyrene (sPS)/montmorillonite nanocomposites were prepared via in situ intercalative coordination polymerization using mono‐(η 5 ‐pentamethylcyclopenta‐ dienyl) tribenzyloxy titanium [Cp*Ti(OBz) 3 ] complex activated by methylaluminoxanes (MAO) and triisobutylaluminum (TIBA). The influences of polymerization conditions, such as the weight ratio of montmorillonite and styrene, temperature, and monomer concentration, on the preparation of sPS/montmorillonite nanocomposites was investigated. The intercalation spacing in the nanocomposites, as well as the exfoliation of the montmorillonite interlayers, was characterized with wide angle X‐ray diffraction (WAXD) and transmission electron microscopy (TEM). The dispersibility of the nanoscale elements depended on the polymerization conditions and the surfactant treatment. The crystallizability and thermal properties of these nanocomposites were determined by differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) analysis and thermogravimetric analysis (TGA). Experimental results indicated that the degree of crystallinity of the sPS nanocomposite increased with increasing montmorillonite content and with higher T g and thermal decomposition temperature than pure sPS. © 2005 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci 95: 1412–1417, 2005