The Compatibilizing Effect of Maleic Anhydride in Ethylene-Vinyl Acetate (EVA)/Ethylene--Olefin Copolymers Blends

The compatibilizing effect of maleic anhydride (MA) in the immiscible blends of EVA22 (vinyl acetate content 22%)/ethylene-${\alpha}$-olefin copolymers with 1-butene (EtBC) and 1-octene (EtOC)) comonomers was studied. By adding 1, 2, and 3 phr of MA in the presence of dicumylperoxide, the morphology, tensile strength at break, and 100 and 300 % modulus of EVA22/EtBC and EVA22/EtOC blends were significantly enhanced. The melting point and crystallization point depression were observed upon the addition of MA. The changes in the ${\beta}$ transition and glass transition temperature of ethylene-${\alpha}$-olefin copolymers and ethylene-vinyl acetate copolymers, respectively, indicate that MA plays a role of compatibilizer for these immiscible blends. The TGA thermograms, measured from the blends with MA, show that thermal stability is slightly enhanced with MA, indicating that MA acts as a reinforcing agent either by grafting or crosslinking with other copolymers.