Preparation of exfoliated graphite/polystyrene composite by polymerization-filling technique

A composite based on exfoliated graphite (EG) and polystyrene was prepared by a poIymerization-frlling technique. With augmentation of filled EG, the molecular weight of polystyrene in the resulting composite increased and th e molecular weight distribution decreased. The glass transition temperature of the polystyrene was determined by dynamic mechanical analysis (DMA) and showed that it increases to 123.74 degreesC. The thermal degradation behav ior of the composite was studied using thermogravimetry (TG) and showed a h igher thermal stability than that of pure poIystyrene and polystyrene/EG co mposite prepared by melt-blending. The DC conductivity of the composites pr epared by the polymerzation-filling technique and melt-blending, respective ly, were measured. (C) 2001 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.