Evaluation of Morphological Effect on Thermal and Mechanical Performance of PS/PMMA/CdS Nanocomposite Systems

Abstract

In the present paper an effort has been made to investigate effect of dispersion of CdS nanoparticles on the thermal and mechanical properties of PS/PMMA blends. Samples have been prepared through dispersion of CdS nanoparticles (prepared separately) during solution casting blend fabrication processing. These nanocomposites samples are structurally characterized through Wide angle X-ray Scattering (WAXS) and Small Angle X-ray Scattering (SAXS) techniques. Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM) analyses of these samples have been carried out in lieu of surface morphological characterization. The measurements of glass transition temperature and stress-strain analyses have been performed through Dynamic Mechanical Analyzer (DMA). The thermal conductivity of nanocomposite samples has been determined using Hot Disk Thermal Constants Analyzer. The study shows that the incorporation of dispersed CdS nanoparticles in PS/PMMA blend matrix significantly alter their glass transition behaviour, thermal conductivity and tensile properties.