The effect of reinforced particle on the physical properties of EVA(ethylene vinyl acetate) resin composite foam has been investigated. EVA resin was modified to use the different weight percentage of various reinforced particle such as MWCNT(multi-wall carbon nanotube or CNT), diatomite and carbon black(CB), and EVA/particle composite foams were made using different blowing agents. In this study, tensile, tear and compression test were performed to evaluate physical properties of EVA/particle composite foam. And shape, size and dispersion degree of cell in the composite foam were also investigated. The findings made from this study can be summarized below.
Both tensile strength and elastic modulus of the EVA/CNT composite foam were generally improved compared to ones of the unmodified EVA resin. However, the elongation of the EVA/CNT composite foam decreased with the amount of CNT. As the size of cell is decreased, tensile strength and elastic modulus of the EVA/CNT composite foam increased. And also, the more homogeneous cell improved the better physical properties of composite foam. It was found that CNT affected significantly on the mechanical properties and cell size and distribution of composite foam.
Tensile and tear strength of EVA/Diatomite composite foam were generally improved compared with ones of the pure EVA foam, and the both strength increased with the amount of diatomite. However, compression strength was lower than the one of pure EVA foam. It can be concluded that the porous diatomite particle did not affect the compression strength of EVA/Diatomite composite foam.
The strength and elastic modulus of the EVA/CB composite foam were higher than the ones of normal formed EVA. However, the elongation of the composite foam was lower than the one of the pure EVA foam. It was found that CB affected significantly on the physical properties of composite foam, and the size and distribution of the cell in the composite foam.