Thermal properties of ethyl vinyl acetate (EVA)/montmorillonite (MMT) nanocomposites for biomedical applications

Abstract

The viability of nanocomposites comprising Ethyl Vinyl Acetate (EVA) filled montmorillonite (MMT) nanoclay as candidate materials of biomedical devices was investigated. EVA/MMT nanocomposites were prepared by incorporating the ratios 0, 1, 3 and 5% of organoclay MMT to EVA copolymer. In vitro biostability of the neat EVA and EVA nanocomposites was compared and assessed by exposing the materials to oxidizing and hydrolytic agents for 4 weeks at 37°C. The thermal properties of the neat EVA and EVA nanocomposites nanoclay filled were studied by using thermogravimetric analysis (TGA). TGA results indicate that the EVA nanocomposite sample containing 1 wt% MMT exhibits higher Tonset and significant reduction in the rate of mass loss as compared to the neat EVA and other nanocomposites.