Synthesis and characterization of ethylene vinyl acetate/Mg-Al layered double hydroxide nanocomposites

Mg-Al layered double hydroxide (LDH)/Ethylene vinyl acetate (EVA-28) nanocomposites were prepared through solution intercalation method using organically modified layered double hydroxide (DS-LDH). DS-LDH was made by the intercalation of sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS) ion. The structure of DS-LDH and its nanocomposites with EVA-28 was determined by X-ray diffraction (XRD) and transmission electron microscope (TEM) analysis. XRD analysis shows that the original peak of DS-LDH shifted to lower 20 range and supports the formation of intercalated nanocomposites while, TEM micrograph shows the presence of partially exfoliated LDH nanolayers in addition to orderly stacked LDH crystallites in the polymer matrix. The presence of LDH in the nanocomposites has been confirmed by Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) analysis. The mechanical properties show significant improvement for the nanocomposite with respect to neat EVA-28. Thermogravimetric (TGA) analysis shows that thermal stability of the nanocomposites is higher than that of EVA-28. (c) 2007 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.