EVA-montmorillonite nanocomposites: effect of processing condition

The aim of this study is to examine the effect of the compounding apparatus and of processing conditions on the properties of an organoclay-poly[ethylene-co-(vinyl acetate)] (EVA) nanocomposite. The filled materials were prepared using either a discontinuous batch mixer, a single screw extruder, a counter rotating intermeshing twin-screw compounder or a corotating intermeshing twin-screw extruder. The characterization of the obtained nanocomposites was performed by XRD, thermogravimetry, mechanical and rheological measurements. The study has shown the possibility of producing nanocomposites based on EVA and a commercial organoclay (Cloisite 15A) by several mixing equipments. In fact all the prepared composite materials exhibit a larger interlayer clay spacing in comparison with the pristine organoclay. Moreover their elastic modulus is significantly increased from 50 to 100% depending on the processing conditions.