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Synergistic effect of graphene and carbon nanotubes on mechanical and thermal performance of polystyrene

Polystyrene has found wide variety of applications in mechanical and structural engineering fields, owing to its highly desirable physical properties. One of the key goals of researchers all over the globe is to improve the mechanical properties of polystyrene through reinforcement with nanoscale materials. The improvement in mechanical properties will in turn, increase the scope of utilization of polystyrene in many advanced mechanical applications. New generation carbon materials like carbon nanotubes and graphene have been proven to possess excellent mechanical properties and hence can serve as excellent nanoscale reinforcement materials for polymers. Present manuscript, demonstrates a facile method to use carbon nanotube/graphene mixture to improve mechanical properties of polystyrene. Thin films of the polystyrene-carbon nanotube/graphene hybrids were prepared and characterized by differential scanning calorimetry and nanoindentation techniques. The nanohybrid displayed considerable enhancement in midpoint of glass transition temperature (Tg). Tg of the hybrid nano-composite was improved significantly, compared to pristine polystyrene samples. Considerable improvement in modulus and hardness was also observed after reinforcement, which in turn, enhances the scope of application of polystyrene in advanced mechanical applications.