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.