# Mechanical Reinforcement of Ethylene Vinyl Acetate (EVA) Nanocomposites Prepared from Masterbatch of Cellulose Nanofibers Wrapped with Ethylene Vinyl Alcohol (EVOH)

## TL;DR

This paper presents a method to strengthen EVA plastic using cellulose nanofibers wrapped in EVOH, improving its mechanical properties for industrial use.

## Contribution

A scalable masterbatch strategy using EVOH-wrapped cellulose nanofibers to reinforce EVA is introduced.

## Key findings

- EVOH-wrapped T-CNFs improved EVA's tensile strength by 1.54-fold.
- Young’s modulus of EVA increased by 1.42-fold with the nanocomposite.
- Hydrogen bonding between EVOH and T-CNFs increased by 2.73-fold.

## Abstract

Ethylene–vinyl acetate (EVA) copolymers are widely used in packaging, films, foams, and adhesives because of their softness and optical clarity; however, their relatively low mechanical strength limits broader applications. In this study, a scalable masterbatch strategy was developed to reinforce EVA by introducing TEMPO-oxidized cellulose nanofibers (T-CNFs), pre-encapsulated within an ethylene–vinyl alcohol (EVOH) matrix. EVOH acted as a compatibilizer, establishing robust hydrogen bonding with T-CNFs (evidenced by a 2.73-fold increase in the hydrogen bonding index) and thereby promoting their uniform dispersion and strong interfacial adhesion in the hydrophobic EVA phase. The resulting nanocomposites demonstrated significant improvements in mechanical performance, achieving a maximum 1.54-fold increase in tensile strength and a 1.42-fold increase in Young’s modulus compared to neat EVA. These findings highlight a practical route to produce bio-based, mechanically enhanced EVA nanocomposites with potential for industrial-scale applications.