Production of polystyrene-nanoclay nanocomposite foam and effect of nanoclay particles on foam cell size

Abstract

This paper seeks to study the effect of nanoclay particles on polystyrene-nanoclay nanocomposite foam cells. In this study, first using a melt method, nanocomposites were injected into a mold in proportions of 4, 5 and 6% of nanoclay with a twin-screw extruder. To determine the distribution pattern of nanoclay particles in a polystyrene basis, X-ray diffraction and scanning electron microscope tests were conducted on the samples. To produce nanocomposite foam parts using mass foam process, first the samples were placed and maintained for 40 hours in a chamber pressurized to 60 bars. Removed and weighed, the samples were placed in a hot glycerin bath heated to 85, 95, 100 and 105℃. The foam samples were tested to measure the density and grain size using a scanning electron microscope. The results showed that proportions 4% and 5% of nanoclay caused an increase in density and a decrease in grain size. However, in the nanocomposite foam sample with a proportion of 6% nanoclay, there was a decrease in density and an increase in grain size due to accumulated nanoclay layers.