Preparation and Structural Characterization of Polystyrene-Rectorite Nanocornposites

The polystyrene/reetorite nanocomposites were prepared by free radical polymerization of styrene containing dispersed organophilic rectorite. The structures and thermal properties of these hybrids have been investigated by X-ray diffraction (XRD), fourier transform infrared (FT-IR), positron annihilation spectroscopy (PAS) and thermal gmvimetric analysis (TGA) techniques. It was found that exfoliation of reetorite in polystyrene (PS) matrix was achieved. The average free-volume radius in the PS/clay nanocomposites is generally same as that in PS. Along with increment of reetorite contents, the interface between reetorite and polystyrene matrix increases, and the free-volume concentration decreases obviously. And the polystyrene nanocomposites have higher thermal deeomrosition temoemture than oure PS.