HALLOYSITE NANOTUBES/POLYSTYRENE (HNTs/PS) NANOCOMPOSITES VIA IN SITU BULK POLYMERIZATION

Serials of halloysite nanotubes/polystyrene (HNTs/PS) nanocomposites with different contents of organo-modified halloysite nanotubes (organo-HNTs) were successfully prepared by the in situ bulk polymerization of styrene with the organo-HNTs as macromonomers. The percentage of grafting (PG%) of more than 230% was achieved, calculated from the results of the thermogravimetric analysis (TG). The TG results also showed that the thermal stabilities of the HNTs/PS nanocomposites prepared via the bulk polymerization were better than the pure polystyrene. And the maximum thermal degradation temperature of the nanocomposites increased with the increasing of the amount of the HNTs fillers added.