Nanocomposites of EVA/polystyrene nanoparticles/montmorillonite

Nanocomposites of ethylene vinyl acetate (EVA) copolymer, polystyrene (PS) nanoparticles, and montmorillonite (MMT) were prepared by latex compounding. The nanolatex of PS was synthesized by differential microemulsion polymerization and then blended with EVA at EVA/PS dry weight ratios of 90/10, 80/20, and 70/30, before mixing with MMT at 1, 3, or 5 parts per hundred rubbers. The latex composite mixtures were cast on a glass mold and compressed into thin sheets. The nanocomposites were characterized for their structures, mechanical properties, and thermal behaviors. The tensile strength, Young's modulus, storage modulus, and thermal stability were all improved with the incorporation of MMT, although the extent of such depended upon and varied with the EVA/PS ratio of the nanocomposite.