EVA nanocomposites elaborated with bentonite organo-modified by wet and semi-wet methods

EVA copolymer/organoclay nanocomposites were prepared using melt-compounding. Organoclays were obtained using wet and semi-wet modification methods. These methods enable us to obtain organoclays with adequate modifier incorporation, but organoclays with a homogeneous and narrow agglomeration size distribution were obtained only with the wet method. TS and EB were higher for nanocomposites obtained with organoclays prepared using the wet method. Analysis of Limiting Oxygen Index, UL94 test and Cone Calorimeter test showed that the retardant properties of nanocomposites were also influenced by the kind of modifiers and the modification method.