Injection Molding of Syndiotactic Polystyrene/Clay Nanocomposites

This study aims at exploring the effect of a commercial organoclay montmorillonite (MMT) on the final properties of syndiotactic polystyrene (sPS) injection-molded samples. To this goal, injection-molded specimens made from neat sPS and commercial MMT modified with various organic compounds were prepared in different molding conditions. Dispersion of clay was attained via melt blending, directly in the injection chamber of the injection-molding machine. The obtained specimens were analyzed by IR spectroscopy, X-ray diffraction, thermogravimetry, and differential thermal analysis, with the aim of elucidating the effect of clay on the microstructures of the samples. Results clearly show that, depending on the organic modification, the presence of clay can induce strong effects on final crystallinity. This behavior can be attributed mainly to the role played by clay on the kinetics of the crystallization process. Eventually, it was found that the addition of a small percentage of clay (1%) in sPS can substantially widen the processing window of the material.