Este trabalho descreve a síntese e caracterização de nanocompósitos de poliestireno (PS) e hidróxido duplo lamelar (HDL) formado pelos cátions de ZnAl via polimerização in situ. O HDL utilizado neste trabalho foi modificado com uma mistura de dois ânions, laurato e palmitato. Para caracterização da estrutura e morfologia dos nanocompósitos sintetizados, foram realizadas análises por difração de raios X (DRX) e microscopia eletrônica de transmissão (MET). As caracterizações térmicas, mecânicas e de flamabilidade foram realizadas via análise termogravimétrica (TGA), ensaio de flexão e ensaio de flamabilidade, respectivamente. Os resultados obtidos neste trabalho sugerem que os nanocompósitos sintetizados possuem, de uma forma geral, uma morfologia intercalada/esfoliada com melhoras em suas propriedades térmicas e mecânicas, quando comparados com o PS puro. Entretanto, não foi observado melhora na propriedade de flamabilidade.

This work describes the synthesis and characterization of polystyrene (PS) and layered double hydroxide (LDH) nanocomposites formed by ZnAl cations via in situ polymerization. The LDH used in this study was modified with a mixture of two anions: laurate and palmitate. The characterization of structure and morphology for the synthesized nanocomposites was developed by X-ray diffraction (XRD) and transmission electron microscopy (TEM). The thermal, mechanical and flammability characterizations properties were carried out via thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), bending test and flammability test, respectively. The results suggest that the nanocomposites have in general intercalated/exfoliated morphology with improvements in thermal and mechanical properties compared to the neat PS. However no significant improvement was observed on the flammability property.

Polystyrene/layered hydroxide salt (LHS) modified with sodium dodecyl sulfate was synthesized by in situ polymerization. The materials synthesized were characterized by gravimetry, X-ray diffraction (XRD), thermogravimetry analyses (TGA), differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) and the flammability test (FT). XRD demonstrated that synthesized nanocomposites in all compositions studied showed poor global dispersion of LHS in polystyrene. TGA showed a slight decrease in thermal stability. DSC curves showed that the glass transition temperature of polystyrene and nanocomposites were similar. The FT showed that the nanocomposite with low load of LHS exhibited good results.

The presence of non-aqueous phase liquids (NAPLs) in the subsurface is a threat to public health as well as a serious environmental issue. NAPLs may remain adsorbed or form lenses floating on aquifers causing long-term contaminations. Surfactants may increase NAPLs solubility, enhancing the pump-and-treatment performance. Size, shape, hydration and ionization degree of the micelles define the affinity and the space available for the solubilization of a particular contaminating agent. The tests carried out at laboratory scale, taking into account the NAPL to be removed and the medium characteristics were useful to select surfactants and evaluate their efficiency as NAPLs solubilizers.