Studies on the effect of low density polyethylene on ethylene vinyl acetate/styrene butadiene styrene blends for yoga mat applications

Abstract

Abstract Ethylene vinyl acetate (EVA)/styrene butadiene styrene (SBS) blends compatibilized with different amounts of low‐density polyethylene (LDPE) were prepared using compression molding. These binary and ternary polymer blends were characterized in terms of mechanical, morphological, and thermal properties. Both tensile and tear strength increased by increasing LDPE composition, which is attributed to increased interfacial adhesion provided by LDPE between EVA and SBS. However, no significant change in compression set values was obtained with LDPE addition. Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy study was done to identify functional groups involved in different polymer blends. Scanning electron microscopy showed that adding LDPE into binary blends resulted in the smaller and finer distribution of cell. Thermal properties were also studied by thermo‐gravimetric analysis. Considering the mechanical, thermal and morphological properties of the various blends, sample A10 was found to be the best suited for yoga mat applications.

Keywords

• compression molding
• EVA
• FTIR
• polyethylene
• SBS
• SEM