Polystyrene/molybdenum disulfide and poly(methyl methacrylate)/molybdenum disulfide nanocomposites with enhanced thermal stability

Nano-sized MoS2 particles have been synthesized and polystyrene (PS) and poly(methyl methacrylate) (PMMA) nanocomposites have been prepared using solution mixing techniques. X-ray diffraction and transmission electron microscopy were used to characterize the morphology of the nanocomposites. Thermal stability and fire properties of nanocomposites were studied by thermogravimetric analysis and cone calorimetry. Mechanical properties were investigated by dynamical mechanical analysis and tensile testing. The PS/MoS2 nanocomposites showed enhanced thermal stability in comparison to neat polystyrene, as exhibited by the increase of temperature of 50% mass loss point by over 30 °C in the best case. Reduction in the peak heat release rate was observed in all PS/MoS2 nanocomposites and even more pronounced effects were found in PMMA/MoS2 nanocomposite.