Premium
In situ compatibilization between polystyrene‐grafted nano‐sized TiO 2 and polypropylene with Friedel‐Crafts catalyst
Author(s) -
Xu Lixin,
Yang Mujie
Publication year - 2009
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.30741
Subject(s) - compatibilization , materials science , polystyrene , polypropylene , nanocomposite , polymer chemistry , copolymer , chemical engineering , dispersion polymerization , styrene , dispersion (optics) , polymerization , thermal stability , catalysis , polymer , composite material , polymer blend , chemistry , organic chemistry , physics , optics , engineering
The application of Friedel‐Crafts (FC) alkylation reaction to the in situ compatibilization between polystyrene‐grafted nano‐sized TiO 2 (PS‐grafted TiO 2 ) and polypropylene (PP) was assessed. The PS‐grafted TiO 2 was first prepared via dispersion polymerization of styrene (St) using 3‐(trimethoxysilyl) propyl methacrylate treated nano‐sized TiO 2 (MPS‐treated TiO 2 ) as cores, and then dispersed within PP by melt blending with different contents of FC catalyst, AlCl 3 /St, to give PP/PS‐grafted TiO 2 nanocomposites. The dispersion of PS‐grafted TiO 2 in PP and interfacial adhesion of PP/PS‐grafted TiO 2 nanocomposites were characterized by transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM), respectively. The results indicated that the dispersion of PS‐grafted TiO 2 in PP could be improved, with an enhancement of interfacial adhesion between TiO 2 and PP, by introducing FC catalyst with adequate concentration, which led to a better thermal stability and resistance to ultraviolet (UV) aging of PP/PS‐grafted TiO 2 nanocomposites. The effect of FC catalyst on the compatibilization between the PS‐grafted TiO 2 and PP was discussed based on FC alkylation reaction mechanism. © 2009 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci, 2009