• Journal of Adhesion and Interface
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• v.9 no.2
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• pp.24-31
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• 2008

In this work, calcium hydroxide and magnesium carbonate as metal ionic crosslinking agents were used to introduce ionic crosslinking points to the ethylene vinylacetate (EVA) emulsions for the enhancement of water resistance and mechanical properties of emulsion films. The properties of EVA emulsion film were investigated in crosslinking density, thermal features, surface energy, and mechanical properties, such as tensile strength, elongation at break and tear strength. With the increasing content of metal ionic crosslinking agent, the crosslinking density of the EVA emulsion film increases, resulting into the improvement of water resistance. The surface energy and mechanical properties of the EVA emulsion film, however, showed somewhat different behaviors. The highest surface energy, tensile strength, and tear strength were observed when 0.4% for calcium hydroxide and 0.5% for magnesium carbonate was added respectively, because the EVA emulsion containing carboxylic acid forms strong carboxylate-metal bond of ionically-crosslinked system. Therefore, it can be concluded that metal ionic crosslinking agents, such as magnesium carbonate and calcium hydroxide are considered to improve water resistance and mechanical properties of the EVA emulsion.