Characterization of crosslinked polystyrene beads and their composite in SBR matrix

Abstract Monodisperse crosslinked polystyrene (PS) beads were prepared by a reaction of semibatch emulsion polymerization with styrene monomer, divinylbenzene (DVB) crosslinking agent, and potassium persulfate (K2S2O8) initiator in the absence of emulsifier. The glass transition temperature (Tg) and the mean diameter of the beads were increased from 100 to 135°C and from 402 to 532 nm, respectively, for an incorporation of 2–10 mol % DVB. Crosslinking density was also linearly increased with DVB content. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) photographs of styrene–butadiene rubber (SBR) composite filled with various contents of PS beads revealed that PS beads are relatively well dispersed without changing the spherical shape of the beads in all ranges of compositions. In stress–strain analysis, elongation at break and tensile strength of SBR composite were increased with the bead content. Applicability of the PS beads as a filler in SBR matrix is tested by plotting Mooney–Rivlin or Guth–Smallwood equations. However, mechanical properties of the composite with the beads were not so excellent as those of the composite with carbon black. Crosslinked PS beads are still tentative as a white color reinforcing filler on the SBR matrix. © 1995 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.