The mechanical and damping properties of blends of ethylenevinyl acetate rubber (VA content > 40% wt) (EVM)/acrylonitrile butadiene rubber (NBR), with 1.4 phr BIPB [bis (tert-butyl peroxy isopropyl) benzene] as curing agent, were investigated by DMA and DSC. The effect of chlorinated polyvinyl chloride (CPVC), silica, carbon black, and phenolic resin (PF) as a substitute curing agent, on the damping and mechanical properties of EVM/NBR blends were studied. The results showed that 10 phr CPVC did not contribute to the damping of EVM700/NBR blends; Silica could dramatically improve the damping of EVM700/NBR blends because of the formation of bound rubber between EVM700/NBR and silica, which appeared as a shoulder tan d peak between 20 and 70 degrees C proved by DMA and DSC. This shoulder tan d peak increased as the increase of the content of EVM in EVM/NBR blends. The tensile strength, modulus at 100% and tear strength of the blend with SiO2 increased while the elongation at break and hardness decreased comparing with the blend with CB. PF, partly replacing BIPB as the curing agent, could significantly improve the damping of EVM700/NBR to have an effective damping temperature range of over 100 degrees C and reasonable mechanical properties. Among EVM600, EVM700, and EVM800/NBR/silica blend system, EVM800/NBR/silica blend had the best damping properties. The EVM700/NBR = 80/10 blend had a better damping property than EVM700/NBR = 70/20. (C) 2011 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci, 2012