Composite materials based on ethylene–propylene–diene rubber and poly-(ethylene-<i>co</i>-vinyl acetate) with cenospheres

The influence of the base polymer ratio, namely, poly-(ethylene- co-vinyl acetate) to ethylene propylene diene monomer rubber in ternary composite materials, which include aluminosilicate cenospheres from fly ash as the third component, has been examined. The results showed that introducing 20% poly-(ethylene- co-vinyl acetate) into the polymer matrix improved the dispersion of the aluminosilicate filler in the elastomeric matrix. Additionally, the influence of the polymer ratio in the mixture on their ability to swell in three aggressive environments with different polarities was estimated. Thermal properties of the composites were also studied and the composites were proven to have low heat conductivity. Thermal conductivity of EVA/CS and EPDM/CS is 0.26 and 0.20 W m[Formula: see text] K[Formula: see text], which are lower than the thermal conductivities of neat EVA and EPDM. Introducing of cenospheres into EPDM/EVA composite increases the maximum rate of decomposition temperature from 457–459[Formula: see text]C for neat polymers up to [Formula: see text]470–474[Formula: see text]C for cenosphere-reinforced composites.