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Synthesis and characterization of styrene modified vinylester resin‐clay nanocomposites
Author(s) -
Abdelwahab Mohamed,
Agag Tarek,
Akelah Ahmed,
Takeichi Tsutomu
Publication year - 2012
Publication title -
polymer engineering and science
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.503
H-Index - 111
eISSN - 1548-2634
pISSN - 0032-3888
DOI - 10.1002/pen.22054
Subject(s) - organoclay , materials science , styrene , nanocomposite , thermogravimetric analysis , composite material , scanning electron microscope , montmorillonite , polymerization , polymer chemistry , chemical engineering , copolymer , polymer , engineering
Abstract The influence of styrene as a reactive diluent on the morphology of vinylester resin‐clay hybrids has been studied. Two mixtures of diglycidylether of bisphenol‐A diacrylate as vinyl ester resin and styrene (20 and 40%) were prepared. Various weight ratios of styryl‐functional organoclay were added to vinylester resin/styrene mixture, followed by polymerization of the mixture up to 160°C. The morphology of the hybrids studied by X‐ray diffraction and Scanning Electron Microscope revealed that the dispersion of organoclay increased with the increase of styrene content. The inclusion of styrene to the system gave ordered intercalated nanocomposites. The surface hardness of the hybrid films decreased with adding a higher content of styrene. Thermogravimetric analysis indicates that clay is effective in promoting char‐forming reaction of vinylester resin/styrene clay nanocomposites. POLYM. ENG. SCI., 2012. © 2011 Society of Plastics Engineers