Study of polystyrene/titanium dioxide nanocomposites via melt compounding for optical applications

This article presents the study of melt compounding of polystyrene (PS) with various types of titanium dioxide (TiO2) nanoparticles and surfactants, using a corotating twin screw extruder with multiple screw element configurations. It was found that a properly designed high shear screw configuration and the copolymer of silicone, ethylene oxide, and propylene oxide-based surfactant produced the greatest degree of nanoparticle dispersion in PS/TiO2 nanocomposites, whereas a silane-based surfactant and silicon dioxide (SiO2) or aluminum oxide (Al2O3) coated TiO2 nanoparticles yielded nanocomposites with the least photocatalytic degradation effects and the best retention of tensile and impact properties.