Effect of Organoclay Content on the Mechanical Properties of Ethylene-Vinyl Acetate Copolymer/ Multi-Walled Carbon Nanotube/Organoclay Foams

摘要

The main objective of this study is to obtain ethylene-vinyl acetate copolymer (EVA)/multi-walled carbon nanotube (MWCNT)/organoclay foams with improved mechanical properties without increase of their density, compared with EVA/MWCNT foams. MWCNT content was fixed at 5 phr in this study. To achieve the objective, EVA was melt-mixed with MWCNTs and organo-clays in a bench kneader. And the obtained EVA/ MWCNT/organoclay mixtures were mixed with chemical blowing agent and cross-linking agent in a two roll-mill. After being mixed in a two roll-mill, the mixtures were put in a mold and the foams were obtained by compression-molding. The effect of organoclay content on the mechanical properties and surface resistivity of EVA/MWCNT (5 phr)/organoclay foams was investigated. The addition of 1 phr organoclays to the EVA/MWCNT (5 phr) foams resulted in the improvement of tensile strength, 100% tensile modulus, tear strength, and compression set without increase of the density. However, further increase in content of organoclay (3 phr) leaded to a deterioration of mechanical properties. Therefore, determining the optimal content of organoclay was very important in order to achieve the main objective of this study