Abstract:
In this study various blends of Poly (styrene-b-isoprene-b-styrene) (SIS) and Poly
(styrene-co-methylmethacrylate) (PSMMA) copolymers along with nanoclay
composites, have been first time synthesized, characterized and studied for their
improved properties. The SIS copolymer is a glassy-rubbery-glassy copolymer while
PSMMA is a glassy-glassy copolymer. The SIS is very elastic and bearing less stress
while PSMMA bears stress but not elastic as compared to SIS. The resultant blends of
SIS/PSMMA increased the bearing stress capacity of SIS by reducing the elasticity.
The Kao-DMSO clay was incorporated (as nanofiller) within SIS/PSMMA blend to
form the nanoclay composites. Among various prepared blends, 20/80% SIS/SMMA
blend ratio had exhibited maximum stress bearing property therefore was further
employed to form the nanocomposites. The FTIR confirmed the successful formation
of physical blends of these two copolymers and nanocomposites. Stress-strain curves of
the blends and nanocomposites have been determined by mechanical testing. Glass
transition temperatures were measured by DSC thermal analysis while thermal
decomposition temperatures of blends and nanocomposites were investigated by TGA.
The nanoclay composites (1,3,5 % nanoclay) were prepared in different solvents like
THF and CHCl3 to study the effect of solvent on nanoclay composites w. These
as-prepared copolymer blends-nanoclay composites have been subjected to
measurement of same properties by similar techniques as been previously evaluated for
pure blends. The blends have shown better properties than an individual components of
the system while nanocomposites have exhibited further improved properties than
blends. The SEM analysis was also carried out for the morphological studies which
have corroborated that nanoclay fillers have reduced the phase separation of
SIS/SMMA blends that results in improved properties.
