Structure and crystallization behaviour of syndiotactic polystyrene/layered double hydroxide nanocomposites

Syndiotactic polystyrene (sPS) based polymer nanocomposites have been prepared using surfactant-free layered double hydroxides (SF-LDHs) by a modified solvent mixing method with different loadings of 1, 2.5, 5 and 10 wt%. The nanocomposite preparation process involves a wash treatment of as-prepared SF-LDHs in an appropriate organic solvent followed by gel formation in a non-polar solvent. The gel was directly used to make highly dispersed polymer nanocomposites. The influence of highly dispersed SF-LDH platelets on the crystallization, polymorphism, thermal stability and flame retardancy of sPS was examined. It was shown that SF-LDHs significantly enhance the crystallization rate of sPS and favour the formation of the thermodynamically stable form along with the form of sPS. Moreover, highly dispersed SF-LDHs decrease the heat release rate and total heat release of sPS indicating the enhancement of flame-retardant properties of sPS. In this way, it was found that the dispersed SF-LDH platelets act as a multifunctional nanofiller for sPS. (c) 2015 Society of Chemical Industry