The effects of a polyol on the damping properties of EVM/PLA blends

Silica filled ethylene-vinyl acetate rubber (EVM) and poly lactic acid (PLA) blends were used as the matrix. DMA was used to investigate the effects of a polyol on the damping properties of the blends. The damping mechanism was investigated by DSC and variable temperature infrared spectroscopy. The results showed that the super branched polyol played the role of a compatibilizer in EVM/PLA blends and it had better affinity with PLA. The polyol greatly improved the damping properties of the EVM/PLA blends due to its inherent dynamic mechanical properties as well as via hydrogen bonds with the blend polymers. 10 and 30 parts polyol broadened the effective temperature range from 66.5 °C to 104.8 °C and 183.3 °C, respectively. The variable temperature IR spectra showed the presence of hydrogen bonds between the OH and CO and COC in the EVM/PLA/polyol composite, and a red shift occurred when the hydrogen bonds between COC and OH dissociated.