Polystyrene nanocomposite materials - Preparation, mechanical, electrical and thermal properties, and morphology

This work prepared polystyrene resin nanocomposites with antistatic properties, by melt-blending polystyrene with nanoscale zinc oxide. The effect of nanoscale zinc oxide on the electrical and physical characteristics of polystyrene nanocomposites was investigated. Two kinds of nanoscale powders, spherical zinc oxide (sZnO) and zinc oxide whisker (w-ZnO), were selected. The coupling agents, vinyltriethoxysilane and phenyltriethoxysilane, were utilized to improve the compatibility between nanopowders and polystyrene resin. Adding spherical zinc oxide and zinc oxide whisker improved the antistatic characteristic of materials. The surface resistivities of s-ZnO and w-ZnO nanocomposite were significantly reduced, by modification with vinyltriethoxysilane and phenyltriethoxysilane. Adding zinc oxide nanopowder increased the flexural modulus and reduces flexural strength. Silane coupling agent improved the flexural properties of nanocomposite. The glass transition temperature and thermal degradation temperature of zinc oxide/polystyrene nanocomposite increased with ZnO content. Treatment with silane increased the glass transition temperature and thermal degradation temperature of composite. (c) 2006 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.