PS-TiO₂ Nanocomposites: Thermal Investigations

Abstract

Nanocomposites of polystyrene loaded with various amounts of anatase (ranging between 0 % wt. and 20 % wt.) have been synthesized and investigated by thermal analysis. The research was focused on the simulation of Thermogravimetric Analysis data, aiming to a refined understanding of the interactions between of polystyrene and TiO2 nanoparticles. The dependence of the first derivative of residual mass on temperature has been used to determine more accurately the temperature at which the mass loss is maxim. Several functions have been used to simulate the dependence of the first derivative of mass loss on the temperature of the sample. The highest correlation coefficient was obtained for the asymmetric Gaussian combination, which connects two halves of a Gaussian line with different linewidth. An increase of the thermal stability of the polymeric matrix upon loading with TiO2 is reported.