Graphene and Nanoclay as Processing Aid Agents: A Study on Rheological Behavior in Polystyrene

Genoyer, Julie; Helal, Emna; Gutierrez, Giovanna; Moghimian, Nima; David, Eric; Demarquette, Nicole R.

doi:10.3390/c9040096

Open AccessArticle

Graphene and Nanoclay as Processing Aid Agents: A Study on Rheological Behavior in Polystyrene

by

Julie Genoyer

^1,2,

Emna Helal

^1,2,*,

Giovanna Gutierrez

²,

Nima Moghimian

²

,

Eric David

¹

and

Nicole R. Demarquette

¹

Ecole de Technologie Supérieure, Department of Mechanical Engineering, Montreal, QC H3C 1K3, Canada

²

NanoXplore Inc., Montreal, QC H4R 2P2, Canada

^*

Author to whom correspondence should be addressed.

C 2023, 9(4), 96; https://doi.org/10.3390/c9040096

Submission received: 31 May 2023 / Revised: 15 September 2023 / Accepted: 18 September 2023 / Published: 7 October 2023

(This article belongs to the Collection Nanocarbon-Based Composites and Their Thermal, Electrical, and Mechanical Properties)

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Abstract

The effectiveness of layered particles as processing aid agents in molten polystyrene was studied. Three graphene grades and two clays of different lateral size were selected for this purpose. The morphologies of the composites were observed using scanning electron microscopy. Steady shear measurements were carried out and the Carreau–Yasuda model with yield stress was applied to the experimental results. A decrease in viscosity was observed at 2 wt.% of particle content for almost all composites. The most efficient particle for reducing viscosity was found to be graphene in a loose agglomerated configuration. Graphene and clay particles with similar dispersion states had a similar effect on the viscosity, inducing a decrease by 29% and 22%, respectively, suggesting comparable efficiency as processing aid agents. The observed decrease in viscosity is attributed to the phenomenon of superlubricity, which is a lubricating mechanism that is closely linked to the atomic structure of the particles.

Keywords: graphene; clay; thermoplastic polymer; processability; processing aid; rheology

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MDPI and ACS Style

Genoyer, J.; Helal, E.; Gutierrez, G.; Moghimian, N.; David, E.; Demarquette, N.R. Graphene and Nanoclay as Processing Aid Agents: A Study on Rheological Behavior in Polystyrene. C 2023, 9, 96. https://doi.org/10.3390/c9040096

AMA Style

Genoyer J, Helal E, Gutierrez G, Moghimian N, David E, Demarquette NR. Graphene and Nanoclay as Processing Aid Agents: A Study on Rheological Behavior in Polystyrene. C. 2023; 9(4):96. https://doi.org/10.3390/c9040096

Chicago/Turabian Style

Genoyer, Julie, Emna Helal, Giovanna Gutierrez, Nima Moghimian, Eric David, and Nicole R. Demarquette. 2023. "Graphene and Nanoclay as Processing Aid Agents: A Study on Rheological Behavior in Polystyrene" C 9, no. 4: 96. https://doi.org/10.3390/c9040096

APA Style

Genoyer, J., Helal, E., Gutierrez, G., Moghimian, N., David, E., & Demarquette, N. R. (2023). Graphene and Nanoclay as Processing Aid Agents: A Study on Rheological Behavior in Polystyrene. C, 9(4), 96. https://doi.org/10.3390/c9040096

Note that from the first issue of 2016, this journal uses article numbers instead of page numbers. See further details here.

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Graphene and Nanoclay as Processing Aid Agents: A Study on Rheological Behavior in Polystyrene

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