Study of PS/SBS/nano-CaCO3 blends

Abstract

The effect of SBS and nano-CaCO₃ on the mechanical properties of PS blends was studied, and their morphologies were characterised by scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and transmission electron microscopy (TEM). The Izod impact strengths of notched samples of PS/SBS/CaCO₃ blends with nanometre particles of nano-CaCO₃ and SBS are higher than those of PS and PS/SBS blends with the same content of SBS, and the tensile strengths are higher than those of PS/SBS blends. The inclusion of nano-CaCO₃ within the dispersed phase of SBS enlarges the volume of the domains of SBS, which increases the toughness of the ternary blends (PS/SBS/CaCO₃). The mass ratio of SBS/CaCO ₃ plays an important role in the properties of the ternary blends because it affects the concentration of SBS in these blends, the dispersion of nano-CaCO₃ and the morphology of the ternary blends.