Temperature Dependent Mechanical Properties of Zinc Sulphide/Polystyrene Nanocomposites

In this study, zinc sulphide/polystyrene (ZnS/PS) nanocomposites were prepared by solution casting method and were characterized through X-ray diffraction (XRD) and transmission electron microscopy measurements (TEM). The particles size of ZnS nanoparticles was found to be around 5 nm. Mechanical properties of ZnS/PS nanocomposites were investigated using dynamic mechanical analyzer (DMA). The mechanical properties such as Young's modulus, tensile strength and fracture energy have been determined though stress-strain scans at room temperature (30 degrees C) as well as at elevated temperatures (50 degrees C, 70 degrees C and 90 degrees C). It was found that mechanical properties increased at all temperatures up to 4 wt.% of ZnS nanoparticles and then decrease for further increase of wt.% of nanoparticles. The increase in mechanical properties can be explained on the basis of interaction between the filler and the polymer matrix. It was also observed that all mechanical properties are maximum for all composites at room temperature and decreases with the increase in temperature.