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Updated: May 31, 2026

Using Polystyrene-block-poly(acrylic acid)-coated Metal Nanoparticles as Monomers for Their Homo- and Co-polymerization
Published on: July 9, 2015
Structure and melt rheology of polystyrene-based layered silicate nanocomposites
Liang Xu1, Stacey Reeder, Mahesh Thopasridharan
1Department of Chemical Engineering, University of Houston, 4800 Calhoun, Houston, TX 77204-4004, USA.
Abstract:
The melt-state viscoelastic properties of exfoliated in situ polymerized and intercalated solution-blended polystyrene (PS) and organically modified montmorillonite nanocomposites were investigated and compared. The PS nanocomposites prepared by nitroxide-mediated polymerization (NMP) exhibit a stable exfoliated structure whereas the PS nanocomposites prepared by solution mixing exhibit an intercalated structure. The linear viscoelastic properties were strongly correlated with the dispersion state of the nanocomposites. On the other hand, the non-linear oscillatory shear properties exhibited shear thinning character and were consistent with the weak interactions between the polymer and the layered silicate.
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