Modification of polymers using nanoparticles brings significant improvement in many properties. This study has been carried out to find the effect of nanosilica on the mechanical and thermal properties of polystyrene (PS). Nanosilica was prepared by acid hydrolysis method and it was melt mixed with polystyrene in a torque rheometer. The mechanical and thermal properties of the composite were evaluated in comparison to pure PS. Mechanical properties were evaluated by conducting tensile and impact tests. Thermal stability was evaluated by TGA. Both mechanical properties and thermal stability are found to improve with increase in silica loadings up to 3 wt.%.
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