Preparation and properties of ethylene-vinyl acetate copolymer-based blend foams

In this study, ethylene-vinyl acetate (EVA) copolymer-based blend foams with polyolefin elastomers (POEs), low-density polyethylene, or styrenic thermoplastic elastomers were prepared as a potential resilient material for reducing inter-floor noise. Various properties of EVA blend foams were measured in order to reveal the effects of EVA content and types of pair polymers consisting of EVA blend foams on dynamic stiffness, which is one of the key factors of resilient materials, in relation to hardness, specific gravity, and resilience. These properties had not been introduced by the construction industry until now. When the EVA/POE ratio was 20/80 and the foaming ratio was 210%, dynamic stiffness presented the lowest value at 5.97 MN m(-3). However, when the resilience was <20%, dynamic stiffness was as high as 37.66 MN m(-3) at an expansion ratio of 210% even when the specific gravity was low.