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Epoxidized natural rubber/Ethylene vinyl acetate copolymer (ENR-50/EVA) blends with different ratios were prepared by using a Haake internal mixer. The effect of the blend ratio on the processing, tensile properties (such as tensile strength, elongation at break, Young's modulus and stress-strain behavior), morphology, dynamic mechanical properties, and thermal properties has been investigated. The tensile properties increase with the increase of EVA content, whereas the stabilization torque increases with the increase of ENR-50 content in the blend. In 40:60 and 50:50 blend of ENR-50/EVA, both the phases exist as continuous phases, producing a co-continuous morphology. At these blend ratio, the drastic change in properties were noted, indicating that the phase inversion occurs. The results on dynamic mechanical properties revealed that the blends are compatible. Blending of ENR-50 and EVA lead to the improvement in thermal stability and 50:50 blend ratios is the most stable blend.

Poly-lactic acid (PLA) nanocomposite film was prepared with untreated and silane treated sepiolite through solution casting method. Sepiolite is found to be promising nano inorganic filler used to prepare biodegradable PLA nanocomposite films. The effect of sepiolite loading on the thermal, mechanical, gas permeability, and water vapor permeability (WVP) properties of the films was investigated. X-ray diffraction analysis revealed the crystallinity index and well dispersed sepiolite in PLA/sepiolite thin films. By modifying sepiolite, depending on the nanoclay content, the mechanical properties of films were enhanced. PLA/sepiolite films exhibited improved gas barrier and WVP properties compared to neat PLA. The scanning electron microscope results demonstrated that there is a good interface interaction between sepiolite and PLA. The surface treatment of sepiolite increased the adhesion of the PLA matrix to the sepiolite nanoclay which yielded better mechanical properties of the films as compared to pure PLA. It was observed after 1.5% wt sepiolite, nano-filler tended to agglomerate, therefore mechanical and barrier properties of films decreased.

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