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Maghnite: an innovative inorganic reinforcement used in the synthesis of polystyrene nanocomposites with optimized thermal and mechanical properties

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Abstract

In this study, polystyrene/organoclay nanocomposites were developed using two different methodologies, i.e., in-situ bulk process and solution process. A comparative analysis of the thermal and mechanical properties was carried out for the nanocomposites obtained by these two distinct methods. The in-situ bulk method resulted in nanocomposites having good exfoliation and high thermal stability, while in-situ solution method resulted in materials with good mechanical properties and high thermal stability upon intercalation of the polymer matrix into the clay galleries. Two kinds of organically modified clays were used as labeled as CTA-Mag(1CEC) and CTA-Mag(2CEC) modified by a quaternary ammonium surfactant which was cetyltrimethylammonium bromide (CTAB). Maghnite is a natural clay (in Algeria) that can act as a catalyst and an inorganic reinforcement, both. These organoclays were utilized for the synthesis of polystyrene/clay nanocomposites. The impacts of the CTA-Mag on the morphology and properties of the nanocomposites were examined. However, polystyrene/CTA-Maghnite (PS/CTA-Mag) nanocomposites were characterized by various physicochemical techniques, i.e., XRD, FTIR, TGA, and transmission electron microscopy (TEM). Gel permeation chromatography (GPC) illustrated the ability of the CTA-Mag organoclay to effectively minimize the average molecular weight of the PS particles. The greatest improvement in thermal stabilities of the nanocomposites was obtained with 5 wt% of CTA-Mag for both organoclays. The nanocomposite containing 3 wt% organoclay showed the greatest improvement in Young’s modulus, impact strength, and tensile strength. The addition of organoclay reduced the MFI value of the polystyrene nanocomposites. The measurement of Young’s modulus, shock resistance, and breaking stress enabled the evolution of the mechanical properties to be assessed.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Laboratoire de chimie des matériaux inorganiques et Applications (LCMIA), Département des Matériaux Faculté de Chimie, Université des Sciences et de la Technologie d′Oran, M. Boudiaf, BP 1505 El M’naouar, 31000, Oran, Algeria

    Radja Megherbi

  2. Ecole Supérieure en Génie Electrique et Energétique d’Oran, BP 64, Achaba Hanifi, USTO, Oran, Algeria

    Lahouari Mrah

  3. Polymer Chemistry Laboratory, Department of Chemistry, Faculty of Exact and Applied Sciences, Oran 1 University, A. Ben Bella, BP 1524 El M’naouar, 31000, Oran, Algeria

    Lahouari Mrah & Mohamed Marref

  4. Département de chimie-physique, Faculté de Chimie, Université des Sciences et de la Technologie d’Oran, M. Boudiaf, BP 1505 El M’naouar, 31000, Oran, Algeria

    Mohamed Marref

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  1. Radja Megherbi
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  2. Lahouari Mrah
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Correspondence to Lahouari Mrah.

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Megherbi, R., Mrah, L. & Marref, M. Maghnite: an innovative inorganic reinforcement used in the synthesis of polystyrene nanocomposites with optimized thermal and mechanical properties. Iran Polym J 31, 223–236 (2022). https://doi.org/10.1007/s13726-021-00995-w

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s13726-021-00995-w

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