Ethylene-vinyl Acetate Thermoplastic Copolymers Filled with Multiwall Carbon Nanotubes: Effect of Hydrothermal Ageing on Mechanical, Thermal, and Electrical Properties

A range of properties of two commercial thermoplastic ethylene-vinyl acetate (EVA) copolymers, Elvax 420 and Elvax 450, neat and as melt-mixed composite filled with 15 wt.-% of multi-wall carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs), are studied in the “as produced” state and after hydrothermal ageing. Addition of MWCNTs into the neat copolymers introduces the functionality of electrical conductivity and significantly improves their mechanical properties, while thermal characteristics are slightly affected by the presence of carbon nanotubes. A remarkable increase of the elastic modulus (150%) and stress at failure (50%) in stress–strain experiments as well as creep resistance (40%) of the nanocomposites in c…