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Nanoclay‐encapsulated polystyrene microspheres by reverse atom transfer radical polymerization
Author(s) -
Khezri Khezrollah,
HaddadiAsl Vahid,
RoghaniMamaqani Hossein,
SalamiKalajahi Mehdi
Publication year - 2012
Publication title -
polymer composites
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.577
H-Index - 82
eISSN - 1548-0569
pISSN - 0272-8397
DOI - 10.1002/pc.22233
Subject(s) - materials science , miniemulsion , atom transfer radical polymerization , thermogravimetric analysis , differential scanning calorimetry , polystyrene , gel permeation chromatography , dispersity , dynamic light scattering , chemical engineering , nanocomposite , polymerization , glass transition , radical polymerization , thermal stability , polymer chemistry , molar mass distribution , composite material , polymer , nanoparticle , nanotechnology , physics , engineering , thermodynamics
Nanoclay‐encapsulated polystyrene microspheres were synthesized using reverse atom transfer radical polymerization in miniemulsion. Conversion and molecular weight were evaluated using gravimetry and gel permeation chromatography, respectively. Accordingly, conversion and molecular weight decrease by adding clay content. However, polydispersity index of the nanocomposites with higher clay content is higher. At high temperatures, thermal stability of the nanocomposites is relatively higher than the neat polystyrene, according to the thermogravimetric analysis results. Differential scanning calorimetry results show that glass transition temperature decreases by increasing clay content. Transmission electron microscopy result is in coincidence with X‐ray diffraction data and shows that clay layers are exfoliated in the matrix of PSNM 1. Scanning electron microscopy images display a homogeneous distribution of spherical particles with sizes in the range of ∼200 nm and also confirm dynamic light scattering (DLS) results. POLYM. COMPOS., 2012. © 2012 Society of Plastics Engineers