In-situ synthesis of PPTA nanomaterials in PS matrix and their enhanced performances in PS-based nanocomposite

In this paper, aramid nanomaterials (ANM) were successfully prepared in N -methyl pyrrolidone (NMP) solution containing polystyrene (PS) by in-situ condensation of para -phenylenediamine (PPD) and para -benzoyl chloride (TPC). Transmission electron microscopy (TEM) images showed that the morphologies of ANM varied significantly including nanosphere, nanorod and nanobundle, all of which depended on the reactant concentration. The obtained ANM with different morphologies could uniformly distribute within PS matrix without undesirable agglomeration and poor compatibility with PS. ANM/PS nanocomposites were prepared simply by solution method. The fracture cross sections and surface roughness of ANM/PS were characterized by scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and atomic force microscopy (AFM).   Furthermore, thermal stability and mechanical properties of ANM/PS were tested. It was shown that ANM significantly improved the mechanical properties and thermal stability of PS, which may open up opportunities for new applications of these ANM/PS nanocomposites.