Improving viscoelasticity and rebound resilience of crosslinked low-density polyethylene foam by blending with ethylene vinyl acetate and polyethylene-octene elastomer

摘要

To obtain high-rebound resilience of crosslinking low-density polyethylene (LDPE) foam and decrease the foam density at the same content of foaming agent, the melt viscoelasticity of LDPE with different compositions (ethylene vinyl acetate [EVA], polyethylene-octene elastomer, and crosslinking agent) was investigated by dynamic rheology test. Then, LDPE/EVA/(polyethylene-octene elastomer) foams with different composition ratios were produced by a continuous foaming process and investigated by the rebound resilience test. The results show that the melt viscoelasticity behavior of LDPE and its blends in the molten state possessed more melt elasticity behavior after the crosslinking was introduced. Meanwhile, the rebound resilience of LDPE foam was increased 54% at the lower foam density (0.031 g/cm(3)). It could meet the requirements of sports mats for high-rebound resilience (>50%) and decrease the material cost when EVA was introduced into the foaming system. J. VINYL ADDIT. TECHNOL., 22:61-71, 2016. (c) 2014 Society of Plastics Engineers