Thermal properties of PS/TiO2 nanocomposites obtained by in situ bulk radical polymerization of styrene

Abstract

TiO2 nanoparticles. surface modified with 6-palmitate ascorbic acid, were incorporated in polystyrene (PS) by in situ bulk radical polymerization of styrene using 2,2'-azobisisobutyronitrile as initiator. The molar mass and polydispersity of synthesized samples were estimated by gel permeation chromatography. The influence of surface modified TiO2 nanoparticles on the thermal properties of PS matrix was examined using thermogravimetry and differential scanning calorimetry. Molar mass and polydispersity of PS were not influenced by the presence of the TiO2 nanoparticles. On the other hand, PS/TiO2 nanocomposites have higher glass transition temperature and better thermal and thermooxidative stability than the pure PS.