Characterizations of Polystyrene-Based Hybrid Particles Containing Hydrophobic Mg(OH)2Powder and Composites Fabricated by Employing Resultant Hybrid Particles

Shuichi Kimura,Takeo Hyodo,Makoto Egashira,Yasuhiro Shimizu

doi:10.1155/2007/19232

Shuichi Kimura, Takeo Hyodo + Show 2 more

Open Access

https://doi.org/10.1155/2007/19232

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Abstract

Polystyrene (PS)-based hybrid particles containing a large amount of Mg(OH)2powder treated with methylhydrogen polysiloxane (MHS) were fabricated by a bulk and subsequent suspension two-step polymerization method. All the particles fabricated showed spherical shape and their particle sizes were about 500 μm, irrespective of the additive amount of the Mg(OH)2powder modified with MHS (ST-1). The actual content of ST-1 powder incorporated inside each kind of hybrid particle was almost the same as that in the raw mixture, and agglomeration of ST-1 powder was hardly observed inside the hybrid particles. The compressive strength of the hybrid particles remained almost unchanged, even when the ST-1 powder content increased from 10 to 50 phr. Furthermore, a composite fabricated by employing the hybrid particles achieved homogenous distribution of ST-1 powder and showed a higher oxygen index than that of a composite fabricated by directly mixing of PS pellets and ST-1 powder.

Highlights

Polystyrene (PS) is one of the important thermoplastic resins in industrial fields, such as electrical and household products areas
A key point to achieve homogenous distribution of Mg(OH)2 powder inside the final products within a short time is to use micrometer-sized PS-based hybrid particles containing a large amount of Mg(OH)2 powder as a raw material
It was revealed that ST-1 powder showed hydrophobic nature, since a contact angle value between a droplet of deionized water and a tablet of ST-1 powder was 120.7◦

Summary

INTRODUCTION

Polystyrene (PS) is one of the important thermoplastic resins in industrial fields, such as electrical and household products areas. A key point to achieve homogenous distribution of Mg(OH) powder inside the final products within a short time is to use micrometer-sized PS-based hybrid particles containing a large amount of Mg(OH) powder as a raw material. This method enables us to make a complex shape and a tailored design and control of properties of products by changing the kinds and contents of functional fillers. Microstructure and properties of the PS-based composites fabricated by employing a mixture of PS polymer and Mg(OH) powder modified with MHS or PS-based hybrid particles have been investigated

Materials and fabrication of PS-based hybrid particles

Fabrication of composite sheets from PS-based hybrid particles

Characterization

RESULTS AND DISCUSSION