Synthesis and Characterization of Polystyrene Grafted Nanohybrids by Graft Polymerization

Abstract

Novel polystyrene grafted sepiolite nanohybrid material (SPS) has been synthesized by using two different but greener routes i.e. simultaneous radiation grafting (bulk grafting) and emulsion graft polymerization. In case of simultaneous radiation grafting, influence of absorbed dose and monomer concentration were studied whereas for emulsion graft polymerization, outcome of monomer quantity was investigated. The grafting yield (GY) was measured by gravimetric analysis. The grafting of polystyrene chains was verified by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR). The structural and morphological studies of synthesized nanohybrids have been explored by X ray diffraction (XRD) and field emission-scanning electron microscopy (FESEM) respectively. The grafting yield by simultaneous radiation grafting and emulsion graft polymerization was found to be 257 % and 85 % respectively. Transmission electron microscope (TEM) images evidently revealed the shortening of sepiolite nanofibers after silanization due to which heterogeneous nucleation occurred in micelles in emulsion graft polymerization. Results showed that simultaneous radiation grafting was comparatively better technique for grafting polystyrene chains onto silanized sepiolite.