Ethylene propylene diene terpolymer/ethylene vinyl acetate/layered silicate ternary nanocomposite by solution method

A new ternary nanocomposite has been developed using ethylene propylene diene terpolymer (EPDM), ethylene vinyl acetate (EVA-45) copolymer, and organically modified layered silicate (16 Me-MMT) from sodium montmorillonite (Na+-MMT). Wide angle X-ray diffraction and transmission electron microscopic analysis confirmed the intercalation of the polymer chains in between the organosilicate layers and the nanoscale distribution of 16 Me-MMT in polymer matrix, respectively. The measurement of mechanical properties for 2–8 wt% of 16 Me-MMT loadings showed a significant increase in tensile strength, elongation at break, and modulus at different elongations. Such an improvement in mechanical properties has been correlated based on the fracture behavior of nanocomposite by SEM analysis. Thermal stability of EPDM/EVA/layered silicate ternary nanocomposites also showed substantial improvements compared with the neat EPDM/EVA blend, confirming thereby the formation of a high performance nanocomposite. POLYM. ENG. SCI., 46:437–843, 2006. © 2006 Society of Plastics Engineers