Study on structure and properties of EVA/MMT nanocomposites prepared using one-step melt intercalation technology

Nanocomposites based on ethylene-vinyl acetate (EVA) and montmorillonite ( MMT) were prepared using melt mixing of the two components and an intercalation agent hexadecyl trimethyl ammonium bromide(CTAB). The structure and properties of EVA/clay nanocomposites were characterized by XRD, TGA, Molau and mechanical properties tests. The results showed that EVA could be intercalated into the galleries of layered silicates in these samples, and the distance between layers of MMT in the EVA matrix was 4.09 nm. Interface adhesion between the components in the EVA/MMT (95/5) nanocomposites was improved because the contact area between MMT layers and EVA matrix increased and there was a great deal of active sites on the surface of MMT layers,which could bind tightly with the EVA matrix. Compared with those of EVA/MMT (95/5) composites without CTAB, the tensile strength, the Young' modulus and the tear strength of EVA/MMT (95/5) nanocomposites prepared in this work increased by about 20.2%, 43.3% and 17.1% respectively. The thermal behavior of the composites was examined on a thermobalance in nitrogen. For the EVA/MMT (95/5) nanocomposites, the acceleration of EVA deacylation and the deceleration of thermal degradation were observed.