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Compatibilization and properties of ethylene vinyl acetate copolymer (EVA) and thermoplastic polyurethane (TPU) blend based foam

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Abstract

Ethylene vinyl acetate copolymer/thermoplastic polyurethane (EVA/TPU) blending foams are rarely reported so far because of their poor compatibility, and addition of a compatibilizer to the blend system was our major interest, which can improve interfacial adhesion between the two phases. In this paper, TPU-grafted EVA (EVA-g-TPU), as a compatibilizer, was simply prepared using maleic anhydride-grafted EVA (EVA-g-MAH) and 4,4′ diamino diphenyl methane in the mixing process of TPU and EVA matrix. Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy and differential scanning calorimetry were used to investigate the structures of EVA-g-TPU and the interfacial reaction in the mixing process, and the effect of EVA-g-TPU on compatibilization between the two phases of EVA/TPU blends was investigated using scanning electron microscopy. Finally, EVA/EVA-g-TPU/TPU foams based on the good compatibility of the resin blends were prepared, and the physical properties directly related to the compatibility were investigated as a function of the theoretical quantity (molar mass) of EVA-g-TPU (n EVA-g-TPU) in the foams. Moreover, the tensile strength, elongation at break, tear strength and compression set were improved by 19.0, 9.3, 43.6 and 7.5 %, respectively. Overall, EVA/EVA-g-TPU/TPU foams with excellent mechanical properties were obtained without sacrificing other important physical properties (lower density etc.) through popular and friendly means in this research.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. College of Resource and Environment, Shaanxi University of Science and Technology, Xi’an, 710021, China

    Jianzhong Ma, Chaohua Xue & Fuquan Deng

  2. College of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Shaanxi University of Science and Technology, Xi’an, 710021, China

    Liang Shao & Zhouyang Duan

  3. Key Laboratory of Chemistry and Technology for Light Chemical Industry, Ministry of Education, Xi’an, 710021, China

    Jianzhong Ma, Liang Shao, Chaohua Xue & Fuquan Deng

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  1. Jianzhong Ma
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  2. Liang Shao
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  3. Chaohua Xue
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Correspondence to Jianzhong Ma or Liang Shao.

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Ma, J., Shao, L., Xue, C. et al. Compatibilization and properties of ethylene vinyl acetate copolymer (EVA) and thermoplastic polyurethane (TPU) blend based foam. Polym. Bull. 71, 2219–2234 (2014). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00289-014-1183-5

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00289-014-1183-5

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