Clay/EVA copolymer nanocomposite - processing and properties

Abstract

Layered clay and copolymer ethylene and vinyl acetate matrix (EVA, the content of VA component 19 wt.%) were used for nanocomposite materials preparation by compounding of the particular components in KO Buss kneader. The MMT Na+ and the other types of commercially sold products such as Nanofil N 5 and N3000, Cloisite 93A and 30B were added as nanofillers. The quantity of all the nanofillers mentioned above was 3 and 5 wt.% about the content of montmorillonite. The main aim of the presented research was to evaluate the influence of clay concentration and processing conditions on nanocomposite properties. The resulting morphology of nanocomposite EVA/clay samples was evaluated by using XRD analysis completed by microscopy TEM. Furthermore, mechanic properties such as E* modulus were evaluated. Even though the XRD curves and microscopy pictures have shown, that mechanic properties were improved even at 3% concentration of clays despite fact not 100% exfoliation of MMT particles. Nanofiller Nanofil 5 is promising to be the most suitable for used polymer matrix.