A study of the effect of surfactants on the properties of polystyrene‐montmorillonite nanocomposites

Abstract

Polystyrene‐Organo Montmorillonite (PS‐MMT) nanocomposites were prepared by suspension free radical polymerization of styrene in the dispersed organophilic montmorillonite. The results of X‐ray diffraction (XRD) and Transmission Electron Microscopy (TEM) indicated that exfoliated nanocomposites were achieved. The effect of organic modifiers (surfactants) on the properties of the synthesized nanocomposites was studied. It is found that polystyrene‐MMT nanocomposite with 5.0 wt% of organo‐MMT gave the greatest improvement in thermal stability, and polystyrene‐MMT nanocomposites with 7.5 wt% of organo‐MMT showed the greatest improvement in mechanical properties, compared with that of pure polystyrene (PS) in our experimental conditions. The alkyl chain length of surfactant used in fabricating organo‐MMT affects the synthesized PS nanocomposites: the longer the alkyl chain length that the surfactant possesses, the higher the glass transition temperature of the PS nanocomposite, However, the organoclay in the nanocomposites seems to play a dual role: (a) as nanofiller leading to the increase of storage modulus and (b) as plasticizer leading to the decrease of storage modulus. This results in a lower storage modulus of PS‐TMOMMT and PS‐TMTMMT nanocomposites than that of PS‐TMDMMT and PS‐TMCMMT nanocomposites. Further study is needed to confirm the above hypothesis.

Preparation and characterization of zwitterionic surfactant-modified montmorillonites

“…The modified montmorillonite can then adsorb different organic compounds from aqueous solutions. Therefore, organoclays can be used to adsorb organic pollutants for water treatment [7], and as components and precursors for the synthesis of polymer-clay nanocomposites with improved mechanical and thermal properties and chemical stability, and reduced gas permeability [8][9][10].…”

Changes in the morphology of organoclays with HDTMA+ surfactant loading

“…TEM and SEM have been widely used in the study of organoclay based nanocomposites [1,2,21,22]. In this research, the principal focus was on the distribution of organoclays in the nanocomposites and their effect on the nanocomposite properties.…”

Morphology and properties of thermoplastic polyurethane composites incorporating hydrophobic layered silicates

“…Organosilicates similar to 15A have been observed to impart competing effects on polymer relaxation behavior. 40, 41 The layered silicates act to restrict mo- MC ϭ melt-compounded; SC ϭ solvent-cast. lecular motion, whereas the alkylammonium surfactant plasticizes the polymer.…”