Thermal properties of emulsion polymerized polystyrene/α‐type zirconium phosphate/multiwalled carbon nanotubes nanocomposites

Nanocomposites of polystyrene with α‐type zirconium phosphate (PS/ZrP) and with the combination of α‐type zirconium phosphate and multiwalled carbon nanotubes (PS/ZrP/CNTs) were synthesized via emulsion polymerization. The influence of the replacement of ZrP by CNTs on morphology evolution and thermal properties of the materials were studied. Transmission electron microscopy observations showed that the replacement of ZrP by CNTs at an optimum weight ratio facilitated an ideal homogeneous dispersion of ZrP nanoplatelets in PS/ZrP/CNTs nanocomposite. Thermal properties of the materials were comparative studied by thermogravimetric analysis, thermal conductivity analysis, and bomb calorimetry. The results revealed that PS nanocomposite containing 5.1 wt% ZrP and 0.2 wt% CNTs could additionally improve the thermal stability but decrease the thermal conductivity as well as the heat of combustion in comparison with the control PS nanocomposite with 5.3 wt% ZrP alone. POLYM. COMPOS., 38:E314–E319, 2017. © 2015 Society of Plastics Engineers