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Plasticization of nano‐CaCO 3 in polystyrene/nano‐CaCO 3 composites
Author(s) -
Li Gu,
Mai Kancheng,
Feng Kaicai
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.22752
Subject(s) - materials science , composite material , maleic anhydride , rheology , copolymer , composite number , polystyrene , extrusion , styrene , nanocomposite , plasticizer , shear rate , polymer
The shear rheological properties of polystyrene (PS)/nano‐CaCO 3 composites were studied to determine the plasticization of nano‐CaCO 3 to PS. The composites were prepared by melt extrusion. A poly(styrene–butadiene–styrene) triblock copolymer (SBS), a poly(styrene–isoprene–styrene) triblock copolymer (SIS), SBS‐grafted maleic anhydride (SBS–MAH), and SIS‐grafted maleic anhydride were used as modifiers or compatibilizers. Because of the weak interaction between CaCO 3 and the PS matrix, the composites with 1 and 3 phr CaCO 3 loadings exhibited apparently higher melt shear rates under the same shear stress with respect to the matrix polymer. The storage moduli for the composites increased with low CaCO 3 concentrations. The results showed that CaCO 3 had some effects on the compatibility of PS/SBS (or SBS–MAH)/CaCO 3 composites, in which SBS could effectively retard the movement of PS chain segments. The improvement of compatibility, due to the chemical interaction between CaCO 3 and the grafted maleic anhydride, had obvious effects on the rheological behavior of the composites, the melt shear rate of the composites decreased greatly, and the results showed that nano‐CaCO 3 could plasticize the PS matrix to some extent. Rheological methods provided an indirect but useful characterization of the composite structure. © 2005 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci, 2006