Abstract:
In this study polystyrene (PS) composites with various compositions were prepared from softwood wastes by melt mixing technique. PS has sufficient high molecular weight (280000 g/mol) was mixed in the molten state with very small particles of softwood. PS composites and PS base were rheologically characterized. The rheological measurements were performed using ARES-rheometer (Rheometric Scientific, USA) in the dynamic mode and parallel plate geometry with diameter 25 mm. The measurements were carried out at temperatures ranged from 140 to 240°C over a wide range of frequencies in the linear viscoelastic regime (strain 1%) and gap setting around 1 mm. The rheological properties such as shear complex modulus, G*, shear storage compliance modulus, shear loss compliance modulus, loss tangent and complex viscosity of PS composites and the original material of PS have been studied and compared. The results showed that the viscoelastic properties are found to be improved by the addition of softwood wastes and their values increase with increasing filler loadings.
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