Formation of nanocomposites of styrene and its copolymers using graphite as the nanomaterial

Graphite-polymer nanocomposites were prepared by melt blending of various graphites (virgin graphite, expandable graphites, and expanded graphite) with polystyrene and its copolymers (acrylonitrile-butadiene-styrene (ABS) and high-impact polystyrene (HIPS)). Nanocomposites were characterized by X-ray diffraction, cone calorimetry, thermogravimetric analysis and evaluation of mechanical properties. Nanocomposite formation occurs at higher loadings (3-5%) of expandable graphites but not for virgin or expanded graphite. Copyright (c) 2005 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.