Synthesis and Mechanical Properties of Polystyrene Blended with Sand Apricot Seed Oil (SAO) used as a Plasticizer

Polystyrene (PS) is well recognized as the most resilient thermoplastic polymer and is utilized in a diverse array of products owing to its adaptable characteristics. The present study centres on the synthesis and mechanical characterization of polystyrene blended with sand apricot seed oil (SAO), which was used as a plasticizer. SAO was extracted with hexane and employed as a plasticizer for styrene suspension polymerization. The findings on the quality of oil were explained in terms of oil content (9.0), specific gravity (0.931 ± 0.00), acid value (12.083 ± 0.12 mg KOH), iodine value (118.987 ± 0.40), saponification values (283.271), viscosity (85.23 Ns/m2), and refractive index (1.412). The FTIR of SAO affirmed the presence of alkene, isothiocyanate, phosphine, and alcohol, with a vibration frequency of 1607.612cm-1, 2064.996 cm-1, 2450.856cm-1 and 3896.258 cm-1. The mechanical properties of the polystyrene blend with sand apricot seed oil (PS-SAO) at 100g obtained were ultimate tensile strength (58.6 MPa), Young modulus (1996.1 MPa), % elongation (13.4%), break load (500.6 N), peak load (586.7 N), and Shore D hardness (80.0). The results indicated that the mechanical characteristics of PS-SAO were comparable to those of the traditional white petroleum oil employed as a plasticizer. It is advisable to use sand apricot seed oil as a plasticizer due to its accessibility, affordability, and eco-friendliness.