FTIR spectra, thermal properties, and dispersibility of a polysterene/montmorillonite nanocomposite

Abstract

This article presents FTIR spectra, thermal properties, and dispersibility of an exfoliated polystyrene/montmorillonite (PS/montmorillonite) nanocomposite. First, the infrared bands of CTAB-montmorillonite and the PS/montmorillonite nanocomposite are assigned tentatively. FTIR results indicate that the montmorillonite is transformed into small particles and dispersed homogeneously in the PS matrix. The PS/montmorillonite nanocomposite exhibits a higher decomposition onset temperature and glass transition temperature, which may be due to the nanoscale dispersion of the montmorillonite particles. The power sample can be perfectly dispersed in toluene and chloroform, partly dispersed in benzene, and is not dispersible in acetone.