Thermal and mechanical properties of wood flour–polystyrene blends from postconsumer plastic waste

Polystyrene (PS) from packing materials and plastic cups was reinforced with 30 and 50% wood flour through a blending process with and without a commercial compatibilizing agent. The processability of the pure recycled polystyrene (rPS) and wood–rPS composites was studied in terms of the torque of the mixing process; this was then compared with that of a commercial virgin multipurpose PS. The physical and mechanical properties were compared with those of the virgin PS reinforced with 30 and 50% wood flour. The results show that the mechanical properties of the pure and reinforced rPS did not decrease with respect to the virgin PS, and in terms of the impact strength, the rPS was superior to the virgin plastic. The mechanical properties were not affected by the commercial compatibilizing agent, but the torque of the blends was significantly lower with the compatibilizer. Differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) and dynamic mechanical analysis were used to study the glass‐transition temperature (T_g) of both the pure virgin PS and pure rPS and the wood flour–PS composites. The T_g values of the rPS and wood–rPS composites were higher than those of the virgin PS and wood–virgin PS composites. The use of rPS increased the stiffness and flexural modulus of the composites. Thermogravimetric analysis revealed that the thermal stability of rPS and its composites was slightly greater than that of the virgin PS and its composites. These results suggest that postconsumer PS can be used to obtain composite materials with good mechanical and thermal properties. © 2010 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci, 2011     

Morphology and flame‐retardancy properties of ternary high‐impact polystyrene/elastomer/polystyrene‐encapsulated magnesium hydroxide composites

The effects of elastomer type on the morphology, flammability, and mechanical properties of high‐impact polystyrene (HIPS)/polystyrene (PS)‐encapsulated magnesium hydroxide (MH) were investigated. The ternary composites were characterized by cone calorimetry, mechanical testing, and scanning electron microscopy. Morphology was controlled with poly[styrene‐b‐(ethylene‐co‐butylene)‐b‐styrene] (SEBS) triblock copolymer or the corresponding maleinated poly[styrene‐b‐(ethylene‐co‐butylene)‐b‐styrene] (SEBS‐g‐MA). The HIPS/SEBS/PS‐encapsulated MH composites exhibited separation of the filler and elastomer, whereas the HIPS/SEBS‐g‐MA/PS‐encapsulated MH composites exhibited encapsulation of the filler by SEBS‐g‐MA. The flame‐retardant and mechanical properties of the ternary composites were strongly dependent on microstructure. The composites with an encapsulation structure showed higher flame‐retardant properties than those with a separation structure at the optimum use level of SEBS‐g‐MA. Furthermore, the composites with a separation structure showed a higher modulus and impact strength than those with an encapsulation structure. © 2008 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci 2008     

Characterization of composites based on recycled expanded polystyrene reinforced with curaua fibers

This study evaluated the mechanical, thermal, rheological, and morphological properties of virgin and recycled matrices and their composites with 20 wt % of curaua fiber. The recycling process of postconsumer polystyrene was carried out by grinding and extrusion. It was found that the recycling of expanded polystyrene did not have a major influence on the mechanical properties; however, the thermal stability was increased. The addition of curaua fibers led to increases in the tensile strength, modulus of elasticity, rigidity, thermal stability and melt viscosity of the composites. The composites made with the recycled matrix revealed higher thermal stability and melt viscosity than those made with the virgin matrix. Scanning electron microscopy characterization showed empty spaces where the curaua fibers had pulled out of the matrices in the fractured regions, indicating poor interfacial adhesion without the use of a coupling agent. © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Appl. Polym. Sci., 2013     

Grafted syndiotactic polystyrene synthesized via melting graft copolymerization used as a compatibilizer for immiscible syndiotactic polystyrene/polyadimide 66 blends

A new grafted syndiotactic polystyrene (g‐sPS), to be used as a compatibilizer for syndiotactic polystyrene (sPS)/polyadimide 66 blends, was prepared by the melting graft copolymerization of sPS and monomers composed of itaconic acid and dibutyl maleate with dicumyl peroxide as an initiator. The resulting g‐sPS possessed a side‐chain structure identified by IR spectra, and the results of mechanical testing show that a good impact strength and tensile strength were obtained for g‐sPS at a 7.16‐phr addition of monomer with a 3:1 proportion of dibutyl maleate and itaconic acid. Differential scanning calorimetry and scanning electron microscopy analysis indicated that the g‐sPS maintained a high glass‐transition temperature and a crystalline structure. © 2005 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci 97: 1659–1666, 2005     

Development of polystyrene composites based on blue agave bagasse by in situ RAFT polymerization

A new approach for the production of polystyrene-blue agave bagasse (BAB) composite materials is presented. In this approach, dried powdered raw BAB is press molded in the presence of a coupling agent based on glycidyl methacrylate (GMA), producing a hybrid material of poly(GMA) grafted onto BAB. The in situ reversible addition-fragmentation chain transfer (RAFT) polymerization of styrene in presence of this poly(GMA)-graft-BAB hybrid material results in a reinforced composite material. These composites are characterized by Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy, thermogravimetric analysis, differential scanning calorimetry, gel permeation chromatography, scanning electron microscopy, impact test analyses, and dynamic mechanical analysis. The characterization results show that the amount of GMA coupling agent plays a key role in the efficiency of the process, manifested as improvement of the mechanical properties of polystyrene. © 2018 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Appl. Polym. Sci. 2019 , 136, 47089.     

Thermal and structural properties of blends of isotactic with atactic polystyrene

Blends of isotactic polystyrene (iPS) with non-crystallizable atactic polystyrene (aPS) were studied by differential scanning calorimetry and small angle X-ray scattering. The iPS/aPS blends, prepared by solution casting, were found to be miscible in the melt over the entire composition range. Both quenched amorphous and semicrystalline blends exhibit a single, composition-dependent glass transition temperature, depressed from that of either of the homopolymer components. Addition of aPS causes a decrease in crystallinity and in the rigid amorphous fraction, and suppression of the reorganization/recrystallization of iPS during thermal scanning: only one melting peak is observed for blends with larger aPS content. Formation and devitrification of the rigid amorphous fraction of iPS are also affected by aPS addition. The annealing peak, which is due to the relaxation of rigid amorphous fraction in parallel with melting of a tiny amount of crystals, is retarded with an increase of the composition of aPS, resulting in the slow devitrification of RAF in parallel with the melting of large amount of crystals. X-ray scattering shows that the long period in the iPS/aPS blends is greater than in the iPS homopolymer, and long period increases slightly as aPS content increases. Comparison of the volume fraction of phase 1 with the volume fraction crystallinity from DSC suggests that more and more amorphous phase is rejected outside the lamellar stacks as aPS content increases. The effect of aPS addition is to reduce the confinement of the amorphous phase chains. The cooperativity length, ξ_A, which is calculated from thermal analysis of the T_g region, increases with aPS addition. The interlamellar and extra-lamellar amorphous chains both contribute to the glass transition relaxation process.     

Morphology and mechanical properties of high‐impact polystyrene/elastomer/magnesium hydroxide composites

Ternary composites of high‐impact polystyrene (HIPS), elastomer, and magnesium hydroxide filler encapsulated by polystyrene were prepared to study the relationships between their structure and mechanical properties. Two kinds of morphology were formed. Separation of elastomer and filler was found when a nonpolar poly[styrene‐b‐(ethylene‐co‐butylene)‐b‐styrene] triblock copolymer (SEBS) was incorporated. Encapsulation of filler by elastomer was achieved by using the corresponding maleinated SEBS (SEBS‐g‐MA). The mechanical properties of ternary composites were strongly dependent on microstructure. In this study, the composites with separate dispersion structure showed higher elongation, modulus and impact strength than those of encapsulation structure. Impact‐fracture surface observation showed that the toughening mechanism was mainly due to the massive cavitation and extensive matrix yielding. © 2006 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci 102:5184–5190, 2006     

sPS/PET/SsPS/MTA复合材料的力学性能研究

用保持正常熔体插层法制备了新型的间规聚苯乙烯（sPS）／聚对苯二甲酸乙二酯（PET）／磺化间规聚苯乙烯（SsPS－H）及其锌盐（SsPS-Zn）／11－氨基酸改性蒙脱土（MTA）复合材料，该材料的综合力学性能较未加MTA材料显著提高。加入2份MTA时，sPS/PET/SsPS－H/MTA（质量比为85／15／4／2）和sPS/PET/SsPS－Zn/MTA（质量比为85／15／2／2）复合材料的冲击强度达到最大值，分别为15．6kJ/m^2和14．7kJ/m^2，约是纯sPS的3．5倍，是未加MTA材料的1．5倍。拉伸强度和弯曲强度比未填充材料都提高了约30MPa。     

Polystyrene composites containing crosslinked polystyrene‐multiwalled carbon nanotube balls

Crosslinked polystyrene‐multiwalled carbon nanotube (PS‐MWCNT) balls, which act as conductive microfillers, were prepared by the in situ suspension polymerization of styrene with MWCNTs and divinyl benzene (DVB) as a crosslinking agent. The diameters of the synthesized crosslinked PS‐MWCNT balls ranged from 10 to 100 μm and their electrical conductivity was about 7.7 × 10^?3 S/cm. The morphology of the crosslinked PS‐MWCNT balls was observed by scanning electron microscopy and transmission electron microscopy. The change in the chemical structure of the MWCNTs was confirmed by Raman spectroscopy and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy. The mechanical and electrical properties of the PS/crosslinked PS‐MWCNT ball composites were investigated. It was found that the tensile strength, ultimate strain, Young's modulus, and impact strength of the PS matrix were enhanced by the incorporation of the crosslinked PS‐MWCNT balls. In addition, the mechanical properties of the PS/crosslinked PS‐MWCNT ball composites were better than those of the PS/pristine MWCNT composites. © 2008 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci, 2008     

HIPS/纳米蒙脱土复合材料的研究

添加不同种类，不同数量的纳米蒙脱土，混炼制得HIPS／纳米蒙脱土复合材料，以改善高抗冲聚苯乙烯（HIPS）的性能，测试了其力学性能，热稳定性性。结果表明，添加3％烘干的蒙脱土Cloisite 30A的HIPS／纳米蒙脱土复合材料具有较好的综合力学性能，可作为工程塑料使用；HIPS／纳米蒙脱土复合材料的热稳定性与阻燃性有所改善，添加5％烘干的蒙脱土Cloisite 15A的HIPS／纳米蒙脱土复合材料具有较好的阻燃性。     

Reinforced polystyrene via solvent‐exfoliated graphene

Solvent‐exfoliated graphene (SEG)‐reinforced polystyrene (PS) composites were prepared using a straightforward solution‐casting method. SEG sheets, obtained by sonication‐assisted solvent direct exfoliation from natural graphite, were well dispersed in the PS matrix as evidenced from scanning electron microscopy and transmission electron microscopy observations. Addition of 0.5 wt% SEG resulted in a 6% increase in tensile strength and a 77% improvement in Young's modulus over pure PS due to the effective load transfer between SEG and PS matrix. The Young's moduli of the PS/SEG composites were obtained from both tensile experiments and calculations using the well‐established Halpin–Tsai model. Results from dynamic mechanical analysis indicated that the storage modulus of the PS/SEG composites was significantly improved relative to neat PS. The glass transition temperatures of the composites were found to increase substantially upon addition of SEG, consistent with differential scanning calorimetry analysis. © 2017 Society of Chemical Industry     

Polystyrene/EVA melt blends compatibilized with EVA-graft-polystyrene

The influence of poly[(ethylene-co-vinyl acetate)-g-polystyrene] (EVA-g-PS) on the mechanical and morphological properties of polystyrene and the blends with EVA copolymers has been investigated. The melt blends have been performed in a twin-screw extruder. The addition of the graft copolymer enhances the mechanical properties and impact resistance of the PS matrix and PS/EVA (90 : 10 wt %) blends. Better results on impact strength and elongation at break have been achieved by using a EVA-g-PS graft copolymer with a higher EVA proportion by weight. This graft copolymer also contains a lower molecular weight of the PS-grafted segments than the PS matrix. Morphological studies by scanning electron microscopy revealed some interfacial adhesion between the components in the compatibilized polymer blends. © 1997 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci 65: 2141–2149, 1997     

Preparation of a novel styrene copolymer: Simultaneously improving the thermal stability and toughness

In order to improve the flame retardancy of polystyrene, a phosphorus‐ and nitrogen‐containing monomer, N,N‐tetramethyl‐bis(phospohonate)‐2‐hydroxyethyl bis(methylene) amine acrylate (BC₂NP₂), was synthesized and characterized, and then incorporated into various amounts of polystyrene via radical emulsion copolymerization. The copolymers prepared were characterized by Fourier transform infrared, nuclear magnetic resonance spectra, transmission electron microscopy, differential scanning calorimetry, thermalgravimetric analysis, microscale combustion calorimeter, dynamic mechanical analysis, and impact tests. The results showed that all the copolymers had well spherical core–shell structure. Notably, despite a few amounts of the BC₂NP₂ units in copolymers, all the copolymers exhibited significantly enhanced thermal stability, decreased glass transition temperature, and reduced flammability. Furthermore, from dynamic mechanical analysis and impact tests, it was observed the storage modulus was decreased and the impact strength had a certain degree of improvement with the incorporation of commoner. © 2018 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Appl. Polym. Sci. 2018 , 135, 46120.     

HIPS/OMMT复合材料阻燃性能的研究

采用挤出工艺、熔融插层法制备了高抗冲聚苯乙烯／有机蒙脱土（HIPS／OMMT）复合材料。通过X射线衍射仪和扫描电镜研究蒙脱土和复合材料的微观结构，发现OMMT的层间距由改性前的1.52nm增大到2．25nm，复合材料中的OMMT片层被剥离开来，与HIPS基体形成了剥离型的复合材料。用基于耗氧原理的锥形量热仪测试并分析HIPS／OM—MT复合材料的阻燃性能。结果表明，与纯的HIPS相比，HIPS／OMMT复合材料的热释放速率及其峰值、质量损失速率均明显降低，且随OMMT添加量的增加，复合材料的热释放速率峰值降低愈明显；通过对复合材料的阻燃性能和微观结构的分析，探讨了其阻燃机理。     

Recycling of wood fiber‐reinforced HDPE by multiple reprocessing

The mechanical recycling of high‐density polyethylene (HDPE) reinforced with wood fiber was studied by means of repeated injection moulding. The change in properties during the recycling was monitored by tensile and flexural tests, Charpy impact tests, differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), FTIR spectroscopy, and by measuring the fiber lengths. Tests were also done where injection moulding was combined with subsequent accelerated thermo‐oxidative ageing and thereafter repeated numerous times. The results showed that the HDPE composites were relatively stable toward both the ageing conditions and the repeated injection moulding. The change of the mechanical properties was mainly observed as an increased elongation at max. © 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Appl. Polym. Sci. 2016 , 133, 43877.     

PP/PS/纳米插层高岭土复合材料的制备及性能研究

采用熔融共混法制备了聚丙烯/聚苯乙烯/二甲基亚砜插层改性高岭土（PP/PS/K-DMSO）复合材料。研究了不同用量K-DMSO对PP/PS共混材料的结构及性能的影响。结果表明,随着K-DMSO的加入,复合材料的加工性能、力学性能、热性能均得到提高;与PP/PS共混材料相比,在K-DMSO的加入量为6 %（质量分数,下同）时,熔融流动速率增加了2.925 g/(10min),冲击强度提高了48.8 %,弯曲强度提高了24.1 %。扫描电镜分析表明,K-DMSO的加入,使PP与PS两相界面模糊,PS分散相尺寸减小,增加了PP、PS的相容性。     

Microphase structure and properties of polyurethane/polyvinyl interstitial composites

The morphology of two series of polyurethane/polyvinyl interstitial composites is characterized by scanning electron microscopy, small-angle light scattering, and small-angle X-ray scattering. Thermal and mechanical properties are measured using differential scanning calorimetry and dynamic mechanical analysis. The polyurethane networks examined are microphase separated segmented block copolymers. A variety of linear and network vinylic components are studied including polymethacrylonitrile homopolymer and copolymer, and polyacenaphthalene homopolymer and copolymer. The polyurethane and polyvinyl components phase separate during the in situ polymerization resulting in a three-phase morphology. Detailed small-angle X-ray scattering analysis provides measurements of phase mixing, domain spacings, and diffuse phase boundary thicknesses. A comparison of these parameters for parent polymers and composites reveals only slight differences; indicating that the microdomain structures of the phase-separated polyurethane networks are preserved in the composite. Appreciable molecular interpenetration of components is not observed. Dynamic mechanical loss measurements for several of the composites demonstrate the presence of loss processes occurring over extremely broad ranges of temperature. The strong mechanical interaction between components observed suggest that the urethane and vinyl phases may be bicontinuous in these materials.     

Highly antibacterial and toughened polystyrene composites with silver nanoparticles modified tetrapod‐like zinc oxide whiskers

In this work, high‐performance multifunctional composites were obtained by melt blending silver deposited tetrapod‐like zinc oxide whiskers (Ag‐ZnOw) with polystyrene (PS). The chemical, spectroscopic, antibacterial, mechanical, and morphological properties of the PS/Ag‐ZnOw composites were carefully investigated and discussed. The obtained PS/Ag‐ZnOw composites characterized remarkable antibacterial activity against Escherichia coli (E. coli) and Staphylococcus aureus (S. aureus). Moreover, it is found that impact strength of the composite increase with increasing nanofiller concentration (up to 0.25 wt %). Morphological characterization of the impact fractured surface of composites revealed that toughening was achieved through uniform filler distribution in the polymer matrix, and anchoring effect was imparted by the tetrapod‐like shape of ZnO whiskers. © 2014 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Appl. Polym. Sci. 2014 , 131, 40900.     

Development and characterization of green composites from bio‐based polyethylene and peanut shell

In the present work, different compatibilizers, namely polyethylene‐graft‐maleic anhydride (PE‐g‐MA), polypropylene‐graft‐maleic anhydride (PP‐g‐MA), and polystyrene‐block‐poly(ethylene‐ran‐butylene)‐block‐polystyrene‐graft‐maleic anhydride (SEBS‐g‐MA) were used on green composites derived from biobased polyethylene and peanut shell (PNS) flour to improve particle–polymer interaction. Composites of high‐density polyethylene/peanut shell powder (HDPE/PNS) with 10 wt % PNS flour were compatibilized with 3 wt % of the abovementioned compatibilizers. As per the results, PP‐g‐MA copolymer lead to best optimized properties as evidenced by mechanical characterization. In addition, best particle–matrix interface interactions with PP‐g‐MA were observed by scanning electron microscopy (SEM). Subsequently HDPE/PNS composites with varying PNS flour content in the 5–30 wt % range with PP‐g‐MA compatibilizer were obtained by melt extrusion and compounding followed by injection molding and were characterized by mechanical, thermal, and morphological techniques. The results showed that PNS powder, leads to an increase in mechanical resistant properties (mainly, flexural modulus, and strength) while a decrease in mechanical ductile properties, that is, elongation at break and impact absorbed energy is observed with increasing PNS flour content. Furthermore, PNS flour provides an increase in thermal stability due to the natural antioxidant properties of PNS. In particular, composites containing 30 wt % PNS powder present a flexural strength 24% and a flexural modulus 72% higher than the unfilled polyethylene and the thermo‐oxidative onset degradation temperature is increased from 232 °C up to 254 °C thus indicating a marked thermal stabilization effect. Resultant composites can show a great deal of potential as base materials for wood plastic composites. © 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Appl. Polym. Sci. 2016 , 133, 43940.     

Studies of Thermal Conductivity of Nano CaCO3/HIPS Composites by Unsteady State Technique and Simulation with Nielsen's Model

Differential scanning calorimeter (DSC) and thermal conductivity meter were used for measurement of thermal conductivity by unsteady state technique of the high impact polystyrene (HIPS) composites filled with 0.5, 1.5, and 2.5 wt.% of CaCO₃ nano particles. A comparison of experimental and theoretical values of (K _c /K _m) was done using MATLAB software fitting in Nielsen's model of thermal conductivity for polymers containing low limit of volume fraction. The packing fraction (Φ _max) and geometry and orientation dependent parameter (A) of the nanofiller were assumed as 0.10 and 100, respectively, which are most fitted for this model. The effect of nanosize on thermal conductivity was well predicted by plotting different values of thermal conductivity at various source temperatures. The violation of the theoretical values because of local molecular vibration at higher temperature is highlighted promisingly in the plots.