Dynamic Mechanical and Dielectric Properties of Ethylene Vinyl Acetate/Carbon Nanotube Composites

A comparative study of the dielectric and mechanical properties of ethylene vinyl acetate copolymer (EVA) filled with various concentrations of pristine and modified carbon nanotubes is reported. The surface of the carbon nanotubes was modified with 4-(2-(cholesteryloxycarboxy)ethyl) phenyl to improve the interaction of the filler with the block copolymer matrix. The improved interaction and the better dispersion of the modified carbon nanotubes (mMWCNTs) were demonstrated by a detailed study of the EVA molecular mobility through dynamic mechanical analysis and broadband dielectric relaxation spectroscopy. The storage modulus of the nanocomposite with 6wt.% of mMWCNTs at -50 degrees C was enhanced by 103%, whereas for the nanocomposite with the same amount of unmodified filler, the storage modulus was only enhanced by 76% compared to the pure elastomeric matrix. This difference is more pronounced in the rubbery region in which the storage moduli were increased by 117% and 48% for the composite with the modified and unmodified fillers, respectively. The morphologies of the nanocomposites were studied with scanning and transmission electron microscopies to demonstrate the dispersion of the mMWCNTs within the EVA matrix.