The ethylene-vinyl acetate copolymer (EVA) containing 27.5 wt% of vinyl acetate content with a melt-flow index of 5.5 g/10 min (grade UL00628) was purchased from Zhonghua Quanzhou Petrochemical Co., Ltd., Fujian, China. Dicumyl peroxide (DCP) was purchased from Sigma-Aldrich. All other ingredients are industrial grades chemicals, i.e., zinc oxide (ZnO), stearic acid (SA), talc, and azodicarbonamide (ADC) purchased from Shanghai Macklin Biochemical Co., Ltd., Shanghai, China.
In order to achieve better compatibility between the CNT and EVA, two variants of multi-walled CNT were used (supplied by Nanomatics Pte. Ltd., Singapore). Multi-walled CNT were prepared by upcycling polyolefin plastics. A mixture of low-density polyethylene, high-density polyethylene, and polypropylene was used as a feedstock. Plastics were first pyrolyzed to generate oil and non-condensable pyrolysis gas. After the separation of oil by the condensation process, the gas was used as a precursor for the synthesis of the CNT via a catalytic chemical vapor deposition process. To purify and functionalize CNT, two methods were used. (1) Oxygenated CNT (O-CNT) were prepared using chlorination above 1000 °C with a modified method from [22 (link)] and subsequent treatment with air as described in [23 (link)]. (2) Acid-purified CNT (A-CNT) were prepared by boiling CNTs in the mixture of deionized water and 70% nitric acid (4:1 volume ratio) followed by filtration and drying at 110 °C.
In order to achieve better compatibility between the CNT and EVA, two variants of multi-walled CNT were used (supplied by Nanomatics Pte. Ltd., Singapore). Multi-walled CNT were prepared by upcycling polyolefin plastics. A mixture of low-density polyethylene, high-density polyethylene, and polypropylene was used as a feedstock. Plastics were first pyrolyzed to generate oil and non-condensable pyrolysis gas. After the separation of oil by the condensation process, the gas was used as a precursor for the synthesis of the CNT via a catalytic chemical vapor deposition process. To purify and functionalize CNT, two methods were used. (1) Oxygenated CNT (O-CNT) were prepared using chlorination above 1000 °C with a modified method from [22 (link)] and subsequent treatment with air as described in [23 (link)]. (2) Acid-purified CNT (A-CNT) were prepared by boiling CNTs in the mixture of deionized water and 70% nitric acid (4:1 volume ratio) followed by filtration and drying at 110 °C.
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