Preparation and characterization of ethylene-vinyl acetate nanocomposites: enhanced flame retardant

Ethylene-vinyl acetate (EVA) nanocomposites with enhanced flame retardance were prepared by the sol-gel process in the melt. Two EVAs with different vinyl acetate (VA) contents and aluminium isopropoxide were used as organic and inorganic phases. The nanocomposites were prepared in a batch mixer under constant processing conditions and were analysed by several characterization techniques. Aluminium isopropoxide presented low activation energy, which allows the synthesis of the nanoparticles without a post step treatment. The reaction mechanism is proposed. Nanocomposites with smaller and well dispersed metal nanoparticles were produced with an EVA with higher VA content. EVA nanocomposites achieve the requirements for 94V-0 classification. (c) 2013 Society of Chemical Industry