Poly(p-phenylenesulfide)-based nano-composite formation: Delamination of organically modified layered filler via solid-state processing

Solid-state processing for the preparation of poly(p-phenylenesulfide) (PPS)-based nano-composites having finely dispersed layered fillers was conducted. The mixture of PPS and organically modified layered filler (OMLF) (95:5 wt./wt.) was subjected to the processing using thermostatted hot-press at ambient temperature and 150 °C, below Tm of PPS (i.e., PPS is still at the solid-state), and applying pressures of 7, 14 and 33 MPa for 30 s. The mixture exhibited disorder and delaminated layer structure with the thickness of 40-80 nm into PPS matrix. On the contrary, nano-composite prepared by melt compounding at 300 °C for 3 min showed the large stacked silicate layers in the PPS matrix. The solid-state processing led to delamination of the silicate layers and attained the discrete dispersion.