Abstract
This research aims at using the melt-blending of Br nder and with the addition of nano scale zinc oxide to prepare polystyrene nano- composites with antistatic property. Meanwhile, this research is also conducted to explore how the addition of nano scale zinc oxide will influence the physical properties of polystyrene nanocomposites.Two kinds of nano scale powders – spherical zinc oxide and zinc oxide whisker – are selected to compare the effect of different nano scale zinc oxides on the physical properties of polystyrene nanocomposites. Utilizing the coupling agents, i.e., vinyltriethoxysilane and phenyltriethoxysilane to modify the surface of nano powders, the incompatibility between organic phase and inorganic phase can be better improved.For the surface resistivity study, it was found that the addition of spherical zinc oxide and zinc oxide whisker will improve the antistatic property of materials. The surface resistivity of materials with 30wt % of spherical zinc oxide and zinc oxide whisker decreased from 1×1016Ω/cm2 to 8.98 ×1012Ω/cm2 and 9.57×1010Ω/cm2. At the same additive quantity, the surface resistivity of materials modified with vinyltri- ethoxysilane decreased to 2.95×1012Ω/cm2 and 1.05×1010Ω/cm2, respectively. Surface resistivity of materials modified with phenyltri- ethoxysilane decreased to 9.98×1011Ω/cm2 and 5.27×109Ω/ cm2. For of thermal properties study, it was found that the glass transition temperatures of materials with 30wt % of spherical zinc oxide and zinc oxide whisker, increase from 87.6℃to 93.6℃and 94.7℃, respectively. The 10 % weight loss temperatures of materials increase from 326℃to 362℃and 374℃, respectively. At the same additive quantity, the glass transition temperatures of materials modified with vinyltriethoxysilane increase to 94.8℃and 95.7℃. The 10 % weight loss temperatures of materials increase to 372℃and 384℃. The glass transition temperatures of materials modified with phenyltriethoxysilane increase to 95.6℃and 97.3℃. The 10 % weight loss temperatures of the modified materials increase to 374℃and 392℃.From the mechanical properties measurement, one can found the The flexural strengths of materials with 30wt % of spherical zinc oxide and zinc oxide whisker decreases 37.1 % and 27.4 % compared to pure polystyrene resin. The flexural modulus of materials increases 17.1 % and 27.6 % compared with pure polystyrene resin. At the same additive quantity, the flexural strengths of materials modified with vinyltriethoxy-silane decrease 33.9% and 26.0 % compared with pure polystyrene resin. The flexural moduli of materials increase 19.7 % and 30.5 % compared with pure polystyrene resin. The flexural strengths of materials modified with phenyltriethoxy-silane decrease 32.9 % and 25.4 % compared with pure polystyrene resin. The flexural moduli of materials increase 20.6 % and 32.7 % compared with pure polystyrene resin.