Morphology, mechanical, and rheological behavior of microcellular injection molded EVA-clay nanocomposites

Ethylene vinyl acetate (EVA)/montmorillonite (MMT) nanocomposites diluted from master batch (50 wt.%) with EVA and EVAgMA was used in this study. The organoclay EVA nanocomposites were then injection molded by conventional and microcellular methods. Nitrogen was used as the blowing agent. The effect of organoclay content and MA grafted EVA on the morphology and the mechanical and rheological properties of the EVA clay nanocomposites were then investigated. The results showed that the mechanical properties (tensile and impact) increased as the clay content increased. Cell size decreased as the clay loading increased. The EVAgMA nanocomposites had better mechanical properties than the EVA nanocomposites. XRD results showed that the EVAgMA nanocomposites have an exfoliated layered structure while the EVA nanocomposites are intercalated. Rheological results showed the viscosity is clay loading dependent and that the shear thinning effect occurs at high shear rates. (C) 2012 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.