Improvement of Tensile Properties and Elastic Recovery in Ethylene Vinyl Acetate Copolymer/Multiwalled Carbon Nanotube Nanocomposite Foams

In this study, ethylene vinyl acetate (EVA) copolymer/multiwalled carbon nanotube (MWCNT) nano-composite foams were prepared to improve tensile properties without sacrificing elongation at break and compression set of EVA foams by using melt compounding method, the most compatible with current industrial applications. Without any modification of MWCNT and special treatment, a significant improvement of the mechanical properties including elastic recovery was observed for the EVA/MWCNT foams with only 1 phr MWCNT. Improvement of tensile strength and modulus without sacrificing elongation at break and elastic recovery of EVA/MWCNT foams with 1 phr MWCNT may have significant implications toward the elastomeric applications. Cell size and cell density of EVA and EVA/MWCNT foams were also investigated for various content of dicumyl peroxide. (C) 2011 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci 121: 3696- 3701, 2011