Characteristics of maleic anhydrida-modified polystyrene containing sand aggregate

• Main Authors: Qodri, Fadlan, Wirjosentono, Basuki, Tamrin, Siregar, Amir Hamzah, Nasution, Diana Adnanda
• Format: Conference Proceeding
• Language: English
• Subjects: Bend tests; Benzoyl peroxide; Carbonyls; Compression tests; Compressive strength; Flexural strength; Fourier transforms; Infrared spectroscopy; Maleic anhydride; Modulus of rupture in bending; Polystyrene resins; Room temperature; Sand; Water absorption; Weight; Xylene
• ISSN: 0094-243X; 1551-7616
• DOI: 10.1063/5.0015713

In this work, polystyrene (PS) was modified with maleic anhydride (MA, 5 php: per hundred polymer, constant) in the presence of benzoyl peroxide (BPO, 1 php constant) as initiator and mixed with sand aggregate (weight ratio variation PS/Sand: 40:60; 50:50; 60:40; 70:30) using reflux technique in xylene solution for 60 minutes under mechanical stirring. The mixtures were then compression moulded to three-point bending test specimens according to ASTM D790-02 at room temperature (30°C), evaporated and dried under vacum at 60°C to constant weight. Evidence of modification reaction was analysed using FTIR spectroscopy, whereas further characteristics such as: water absorption of the polymer mixtures were also tested. It was found that results of three-point bending tests at optimum composition (weight ratio of PS:Sand: 60:40), the flexural strength (MoE) was 26829 MPa and maximum compressive strength (MoR) was 17.7 MPa. Results of FTIR analysis showed evidence of bound MA in PS, in which peak appearance at 1761.17 cm-1 indicating the presence of the carbonyl (>C=O) group of MA. Water absorption test result of the optimum sample was 2.7%, compared to that of fresh PS (0.0084%).