Effect of Organoclay on Compatibilization, Thermal and Mechanical Properties of Polycarbonate/Polystyrene Blends

TL;DR

This study investigates how organoclay improves the compatibility, thermal stability, and mechanical properties of polycarbonate/polystyrene blends prepared via melt-mixing, showing enhanced performance and morphology.

Contribution

It demonstrates that organoclay induces compatibilization in PC/PS blends, leading to improved thermal and mechanical properties, supported by morphological and structural analyses.

Findings

Organoclay enhances phase compatibility in PC/PS blends.

Compatibilized blends show increased thermal stability.

Mechanical modulus is improved with organoclay addition.

Abstract

Pristine and organoclay modified polycarbonate/polystyrene (PC/PS) blends are prepared using melt-mixing technique. These blends are characterized for their morphology, structural, thermal and mechanical properties. Though our FTIR and XRD results show weak interactions between PC and PS phases, however, DSC and morphological study reveals that pristine PC/PS blends are immiscible. On other hand, introduction of organoclay results compatibilization of two polymer phases which is supported by significant shift in glass transition temperatures of the component phases and a distinct morphology having no phase segregation on sub-micron scale. Intercalation of polymers inside the clay gallery is achieved and is supported by XRD studies. A better thermal stability and higher value of modulus of the compatibilized blends compared to pristine PC/PS blends also support the reinforcement effect of organoclay to the PC/PS blend matrix.