Study of mechanical properties in relation to microrheological behaviour of polystyrenes with different polymer chain structures

Abstract

ABSTRACTThe random-branched and the star-like branched polystyrenes were prepared by atom transfer radical polymerization (ATRP). Then the random-branched polystyrene and star-like polystyrene were blended with the linear polystyrene. The structure and properties of the polymers were characterized by triple detection size exclusion chromatography (TD-SEC), diffusing wave spectroscopy (DWS), differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) andmechanical property testing. The results showed that the tensile strength of the industrial-grade polystyrene blended with the branched polymer decreased with the amount of branched polystyrene. But it was increased when the high storage modulus of BPS was used by keeping the BPS amount constant. The glass transition temperature of the industrial-grade polystyrene blended with the branched polymer decreased with increased amount of the BPS. For an example, the glass transition temperature of the polystyrene blend dropped by 1.87°C when 5wt% of the BPS was added to the blend.