Abstract
AbstractSyndiotactic 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 β form along with the α 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. © 2015 Society of Chemical Industry
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