Preparation and characterization of ethylene-vinyl acetate/halloysite nanotube nanocomposites

Ethylene-vinyl acetate (EVA) nanocomposites based on halloysite nanotubes (HNT) were prepared by solution casting method. The thermal, mechanical, water uptake, as well as oxygen permeability properties of the nanocomposites were examined. X-ray diffraction (XRD) and field emission scanning electron microscopy showed that HNTs were dispersed well into the EVA matrix. XRD data also suggested that HNT frustrates chain ordering and reduced total crystallinity percentage. The thermal and mechanical properties of the nanocomposites were improved with HNT loading, up to 3 wt%. Both ductility and toughness were enhanced by incorporation of up to 3 wt% of HNT, implicitly confirming that HNT has been dispersed in EVA homogeneously. The addition of HNT also enhanced the water resistance and oxygen permeability of the prepared nanocomposites.