Deformation behavior and mechanical properties of polystyrene/organoclay/SEBS

•SEBS can improve the mechanical properties of polystyrene and polystyrene-organoclay.•In the presence of organoclay, the size of SEBS particles in polystyrene decreases.•The deformation mechanism of polystyrene-organoclay-SEBS is massive crazing. Polystyrene- (Styrene Ethylene Butylene Styrene-Maleic Anhydride) (SEBS-MA) composites with/without organoclay were prepared by melt intercalation method. The morphology, tensile and impact properties and deformation mechanism of these compounds were investigated. X-ray diffraction, transmission electron microscopy and reflected and transmitted optical microscopy techniques were used to study the morphology and deformation mechanisms. The results show that incorporation of SEBS with/without organoclay notably affects morphology, mechanical properties and plastic deformation of polystyrene. Introduction of SEBS with/without organoclay can facilitate initiation and growth of crazing mechanism in polystyrene during both tensile loading and 3PB testing. They can alter the crazing mechanism from local to massive in polystyrene matrix.