Macromolecular Rapid Communications · 2002 · 189 citations · 0 references
Natural SciencesMaterials EngineeringMaterials ScienceNanomaterialsPolymer ChemistryRheologyComposite MaterialsNanocompositesPolymer CharacterizationPolymer CompositesPolymer RheologyPolymeric NanomaterialsClay ContentClay NanocompositesClaysEmulsion PolymerizationPolymer Nanocomposite RheologyRheological PropertiesThermogravimetric CurvesX-ray Diffraction Analysis
Polystyrene (PS)/clay nanocomposites were synthesized by the emulsion polymerization of styrene in the presence of sodium ion-exchanged montmorillonite (Na+-MMT), demonstrating that the strongly hydrophobic PS was intercalated into the hydrophilic silicate layers. The nanocomposites were examined by means of X-ray diffraction, transmission electron microscopy, thermogravimetric analysis. The rheological properties of the PS/Na+-MMT nanocomposites were also studied to exhibit more pronounced shear thinning behavior with increasing clay content.