Nanocomposites based on ethylene vinyl acetate reinforced with different types of nanoparticles: potential applications

Ethylene vinyl acetate (EVA) copolymers are interesting materials for biomedical application such as medical packaging, medical devices, and pharmaceutical applications for over 35 years. EVA properties can be tailored and manipulated to develop novel materials with innovative biomedical applications. The addition of a small amount of nanosized particles can significantly affect the final properties of EVA and improve its physical and mechanical performance. EVA-based nanocomposites are a class of materials that merge the benefits of elastomeric-engineered plastics and the reinforcement effect of nanofillers. Nanocomposites based on EVA can be potential candidates for several biomedical applications, ranging from medical devices and medical packaging applications including thermoformed trays, containers, boxes, tubes, needle cover, bottle, blister packs, clamshells, and bottle caps. Thus the formulation of EVA-based nanocomposites that are biostable, easily processable, and with improved mechanical performance is a challenge for the biomedical industry. This chapter summarizes the most recent strategies to design and develop EVA-based nanocomposites reinforced with organic and inorganic nanoparticles for a variety of biomedical applications. Emerging trends in biomedical nanocomposites are highlighted and potential new fields of application are examined.