| HS Code | 351005 |
| Vinyl Acetate Content | 28 wt% |
| Melt Index | 3 g/10 min (190°C/2.16 kg) |
| Density | 0.95 g/cm³ |
| Melting Point | 71°C (DSC) |
| Vicat Softening Point | 62°C |
| Tensile Strength At Break | 13 MPa |
| Elongation At Break | 800% |
| Flexural Modulus | 28 MPa |
| Hardness | 85 Shore A |
| Brittleness Temperature | -100°C |
| Refractive Index | 1.50 |
| Glass Transition Temperature | -35°C |
As an accredited ELVAX 3180 Ethylene Vinyl Acetate Copolymer factory, we enforce strict quality protocols—every batch undergoes rigorous testing to ensure consistent efficacy and safety standards.
| Packing | Supplied as translucent pellets in 25 kg multi-layer paper bags, with product identification and handling precautions. |
| Container Loading (20′ FCL) | ELVAX 3180 copolymer loaded in 20′ FCL, palletized and secured, ensuring safe, efficient container transport. |
| Shipping | Shipping: ELVAX 3180 is not regulated as dangerous goods under IATA, IMDG, or ADR. Pack in sealed bags, fiber drums, or boxes; protect from moisture and excessive heat. Avoid generating dust. No special labeling required. Keep in a cool, dry, well-ventilated area away from ignition sources. |
| Storage | Store ELVAX 3180 in a cool, dry, well-ventilated area, away from heat, open flames, and direct sunlight. Keep containers tightly sealed to prevent moisture absorption and contamination. Avoid stacking pellets excessively to prevent deformation. Under proper conditions, shelf life is several years. Use appropriate ventilation and grounding to minimize dust accumulation. |
| Shelf Life | Store in original container in a cool, dry area. Shelf life is at least two years from date of shipment. |
In hot-melt mixing vessels operating on corrugated case sealing and perfect-binding lines, ELVAX 3180—characterized by a vinyl acetate content of 28 wt% and a melt flow index of 25 g/10 min under ISO 1133-1:2022 at 190 °C and 2.16 kg—functions as the primary polymer backbone for packaging adhesives that require low application viscosity and high substrate wetting on recycled board. The resin is blended in jacketed vertical or sigma-blade mixers at 150–180 °C with hydrocarbon tackifiers, paraffin or Fischer-Tropsch wax, and phenolic or phosphite stabilizers. Typical addition levels of ELVAX 3180 in packaging hot melts fall between 20 wt% and 40 wt% of total formulation mass; below 20 wt% cohesive strength and shear resistance decline, while above 40 wt% application viscosity can exceed 3,000 mPa·s at 175 °C and compromise slot-die uniformity. On a 200 L dual-blade production mixer, batch-to-batch viscosity drift is typically controlled within ±10% when incoming pellets are pre-dried below 0.05 wt% moisture and the discharge gate is heated to 165 °C. Compliance for food packaging is assessed under FDA 21 CFR 175.105 for adhesive components, FDA 21 CFR 177.1350 where ethylene-vinyl acetate copolymers are used in direct-contact layers, and EU Regulation 10/2011 for plastic materials intended for food contact. Viscosity control follows ASTM D3236-19, and heat resistance is measured by shear adhesion failure temperature according to ASTM D4498-07(2015). Downstream converting lines apply the melt through slot-die coaters, wheel applicators, or fiberized spray heads at 150–170 °C; adhesive pots require inert-gas blanketing when run times exceed 4 h to limit oxidative gel formation and skinning. Thermal degradation through deacetylation accelerates above 230 °C, releasing acetic acid that corrodes mild steel equipment and reduces adhesion to pH-sensitive kraft surfaces. Terminal product types include corrugated case and carton sealing, perfect-bound book spines, side-seam wet-strength packaging adhesives, and spiral-wound paper tube laminations.
Curtain-coating lines that apply paraffin-based moisture barriers to produce boxes encounter surface scuffing and flaking when unmodified paraffin wax is used at low temperatures. Adding ELVAX 3180 to a refined paraffin or microcrystalline wax at 2–10 wt% raises melt viscosity and improves adhesion to kraft linerboard without requiring solvent recovery. Formulation ratios are maintained at 1.5–5 wt% for lightweight board coatings and 5–10 wt% for heavily handled produce boxes where abrasion resistance is critical. Regulatory compliance for coated paper and paperboard includes FDA 21 CFR 176.170 and 176.180 for paperboard in contact with aqueous and fatty foods, EU Regulation 10/2011 for plastic layers in paperboard laminates, and REACH EC 1907/2006 for EU market entry. Moisture vapor transmission rate is measured by TAPPI T464 or ISO 2528:2017, and scuff resistance is evaluated by abrasion testing such as TAPPI T476. Blending is carried out in heated stainless steel tanks at 120–140 °C with low-shear propeller agitation for 45–60 min until visual clarity is achieved; the melt is then pumped through jacketed pipes to a curtain coater with die gap set between 0.25 mm and 0.50 mm. Board is coated at line speeds of 200–600 m/min, and the cooling section temperature is held below 10 °C to set the wax film before stacking. Terminal products include waxed corrugated produce containers, meat and poultry boxes, frozen seafood boxes, and paperboard slip sheets.
Solvent-borne laminating lines that run polyester-to-paper constructions require an adhesion promoter that can be dissolved without gel formation during continuous roll-to-roll coating. ELVAX 3180 is dissolved in aromatic/aliphatic solvent blends—typically toluene, methyl ethyl ketone, and acetone in a 60:20:20 ratio—to form a 20–35 wt% solids solution. The EVA addition level is commonly 15–25 wt% of total wet adhesive; higher loadings increase solution viscosity beyond 1,200 mPa·s and reduce gravure cylinder transfer. The vinyl acetate content promotes adhesion to polar substrates and improves cold-weather bond flexibility. Compliance for printed and food-contact laminates follows FDA 21 CFR 175.105 for adhesive components and EU Regulation 10/2011 for plastic layers in the final laminate. Manufacturing uses slow-speed high-torque dissolvers with jacketed cooling to keep solvent temperature under 35 °C, followed by cartridge filtration at 10 μm absolute. Laminating is performed on gravure or reverse-roll coaters at 0.8–2.5 g/m² dry adhesive weight, with drying ovens zoned from 60 °C to 95 °C. A final curing stage at 40–50 °C for 24–48 h is required to reach full bond strength. Terminal product types include film-to-paper pouches, aluminum foil lidding membranes, and metallized film laminates for dry food packaging.
Compounding plants that produce color or additive concentrates for polyethylene film and injection molding can use ELVAX 3180 as a high-wet-out carrier resin at addition levels between 40 wt% and 80 wt% of the masterbatch. The EVA carrier is combined with organic or inorganic pigments at 20–50 wt%, PE wax at 5–10 wt%, and a stearate or amide dispersant at 0.5–2 wt%. ELVAX 3180 reduces melt viscosity more effectively than linear low-density polyethylene carrier, which improves pigment dispersion in high-torque mixing zones and reduces screen-pack pressure. Material compliance for masterbatches is verified under REACH EC 1907/2006, RoHS Directive 2011/65/EU when concentrates are supplied for electrical/electronic plastic parts, and FDA 21 CFR 177.1350 when the final article is a food-contact polyethylene film. Heavy metal and specific migration limits are tested according to EN 71-3 for toy applications and EU Regulation 10/2011 for food-contact film. Production is performed on a co-rotating twin-screw extruder with L/D ratio of 40:1 or 44:1, screw speed of 400–600 rpm, and temperature zones set from 120 °C at the feed throat to 180 °C at the die plate. Water-ring pelletizing is used; pellet moisture is reduced to below 0.08 wt% in a centrifugal dryer. Processing incompatibility is observed when the EVA carrier is used above 20 wt% in highly isotactic polypropylene masterbatches, where interfacial separation and surface bloom may occur. Terminal product types include white and black masterbatches for blown polyethylene film, additive concentrates for stretch film, and pigment concentrates for injection-molded caps and closures.
ELVAX 3180 can be processed as the heat-seal layer in coextruded or monolayer cast film lines at 20–60 wt% in blends with LDPE, or as a 100 wt% resin where low seal initiation temperature is required. The material has a melting range that typically begins near 75–85 °C; heat-seal initiation on cast film falls within 85–105 °C for the neat resin depending on film thickness and chill roll temperature. Blending with LDPE at 50 wt% shifts seal initiation upward by 10–20 °C while improving blocking resistance. Food-contact extruded films are evaluated under FDA 21 CFR 177.1350 for ethylene-vinyl acetate copolymers, EU Regulation 10/2011 for overall migration at 40 °C/10 days in 3% acetic acid and 50% ethanol simulants, and ISO 1133-1:2022 for melt flow index. Heat-seal strength is tested according to ASTM F88/F88M-21 on a 25.4 mm wide seal strip peeled at 300 mm/min. Cast-film extrusion uses a single-screw extruder with L/D ratio of 30:1 or a coextruder for seal layers, with barrel temperatures between 190 °C and 230 °C, die gap set at 0.4–0.8 mm, and air gap kept under 10 cm to reduce melt sag. The chill roll is held at 15–25 °C to prevent blocking; moisture must be below 0.05 wt% before extrusion to avoid bubble defects and acetic acid odor. Published data for this specific grade in monolayer cast-film heat-seal trials is limited; seal-initiation values should be confirmed on a pilot line before full production. Terminal product types include lamination sealant webs for frozen food, medical device overwrap, and paperboard blister lidding films.
| Standard or regulatory reference | Scope | Test condition or clause |
|---|---|---|
| FDA 21 CFR 177.1350 | Ethylene-vinyl acetate copolymer | Food-contact polymer subject to extractables limits |
| EU Regulation 10/2011 | Overall migration | 10 mg/dm² or 60 mg/kg simulant |
| ISO 1133-1:2022 | Melt flow index | 190 °C, 2.16 kg |
| ASTM F88/F88M-21 | Heat-seal strength | 25.4 mm strip, 300 mm/min |
Compression-molded cap liner operations that require low-torque mold release and reliable sealability incorporate ELVAX 3180 into low-density polyethylene or polypropylene-based closure compounds at 10–25 phr. The EVA component reduces seal initiation temperature and improves sealing to glass and polyethylene terephthalate finishes. Blowing-agent systems—usually azodicarbonamide at 0.5–2 phr or sodium bicarbonate/citric acid blends—are added when expanded liner structures are required. Closure sealing materials intended for food and beverage use are tested under FDA 21 CFR 177.1210 for closure sealing gaskets, FDA 21 CFR 177.1520 for olefin polymers in the base resin, and EU Regulation 10/2011 for plastic materials and articles. Production uses low-shear intensive mixers at 120–160 °C, followed by a single-screw extruder for pelletization. Liner forming is done by compression molding at 170–190 °C with clamp force sufficient to maintain 5–15 MPa cavity pressure; demolding requires mold surface coatings because the low melting point of ELVAX 3180 can increase tack. Terminal product types include tamper-evident induction-seal liners, crown cap gaskets, and aluminum screw cap liners for edible oil and dairy closures.
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ELVAX 3180 is a random ethylene vinyl acetate copolymer resin supplied in pellet form, specified with a vinyl acetate comonomer content of 28 wt%. Melt flow rate, measured at 190 °C under 2.16 kg piston load in accordance with ASTM D1238 or ISO 1133-1, is published as 25 g/10 min. Density determined by ASTM D792 or ISO 1183-1 is 0.950 g/cm³. These three parameters—comonomer content, flow rate, and density—define the raw material and separate it from higher-VA adhesive grades and lower-VA film or extrusion grades. The resin is a neat copolymer; the manufacturer does not incorporate tackifiers, waxes, fillers, or plasticizers into the pellet.
The acetate side group disturbs ethylene sequence crystallinity, lowering heat of fusion and shifting mechanical response toward flexible, polar, low-temperature behaviour while retaining thermoplastic melt processability. Incoming resin checks in compounding plants typically include melt index stability, pellet moisture below 0.1 wt% after drying, and carbonyl absorbance near 1740 cm⁻¹ by Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy for vinyl acetate content. Because the material is specified by rheology and comonomer content rather than by a fixed compound formulation, batch-to-batch variation in downstream adhesion and peel strength is managed primarily through melt index control and blend recipe consistency.
Melt processing of ELVAX 3180 is bounded by deacetylation rather than by melting point. The resin is processed in injection molding, extrusion, and adhesive coating lines with melt temperatures between 150 °C and 200 °C. Sustained melt temperatures above 230 °C or local shear heating in poorly designed screw elements can liberate acetic acid and generate gel particles, which appear as surface defects, odour, and die deposit. Thermogravimetric analysis under nitrogen commonly shows the onset of significant mass loss in the 240–260 °C range for EVA copolymers, but the exact onset for this grade depends on heating rate, sample geometry, and purge gas flow.
Pre-drying is not mandatory for resin stored in sealed, unheated warehouses. When pellets have been exposed to ambient air at relative humidity above 60%, surface moisture can produce bubbles, splay, and poor melt clarity. A desiccant dryer set at 60–70 °C for 2–4 h with a dew point below -30 °C is used before extrusion coating or thin-wall injection molding. On a 45 mm single-screw extruder with L/D ratio of 24:1 to 30:1 and a compression ratio of 2.5:1 to 3.5:1, a reverse temperature profile from 150 °C at the feed throat to 190 °C at the die is typical. Because the melt flow rate is 25 g/10 min, screw torque and melt pressure are lower than for 3 g/10 min and 6 g/10 min grades of equivalent vinyl acetate content.
Rheological control is best maintained by capillary rheometry per ASTM D3835; melt flow rate alone does not provide the full shear-thinning curve. When blending with tackifiers at 160–180 °C, viscosity drops more rapidly than predicted from resin MFR because low-molecular-weight tackifiers plasticize the melt. Processors using gear-pump-fed slot dies monitor melt pressure fluctuations at the die entry. A stable pressure trace within ±2% is typically required to maintain coat weight uniformity on high-speed laminating lines.
| Parameter | Test method | Typical value |
|---|---|---|
| Vinyl acetate content | Manufacturer FTIR method | 28 wt% |
| Melt flow rate | ASTM D1238 / ISO 1133-1 | 25 g/10 min |
| Density | ASTM D792 / ISO 1183-1 | 0.950 g/cm³ |
| Physical form | Visual inspection | Pellets |
Hot-melt adhesive compounding uses the 25 g/10 min melt flow rate to limit application viscosity in multi-line packaging and product assembly. Typical formulations combine 30–40 wt% ELVAX 3180 with a rosin ester or hydrogenated hydrocarbon tackifier and a paraffin or Fischer-Tropsch wax, together with an antioxidant package. Mixing is conducted in a heated low-shear mixer or a corotating twin-screw extruder at 160–180 °C until the tackifier is fully dissolved. Batch time depends on mixer working volume and heat transfer area. The higher MFR relative to a 6 g/10 min grade reduces the melt temperature required for a given slot-die or spray pattern and lowers stringing during high-speed nozzle application, but cohesive strength at elevated service temperature is correspondingly lower.
Bond performance is evaluated by ASTM D4498 for heat-fail temperature under shear, ASTM D903 for 180° peel, and ASTM D1876 for T-peel. On corrugated board and aluminium foil, peel values are substrate-dependent. Published data for ELVAX 3180 in a specific end-use formulation are limited and must be generated on the selected substrate and coat weight. A shift from 3 g/10 min to 25 g/10 min lowers melt viscosity at equal temperature, but the exact magnitude is measured by capillary rheometry per ASTM D3835. Open time and set time are controlled principally by wax type and concentration, not by resin MFR alone.
The functional difference between ELVAX 3180 and lower-VA EVA resins is dominated by comonomer polarity and crystallinity. At 9 wt% VA, the resin retains enough polyethylene crystallinity to behave as a stiff, low-tack extrusion material. At 18 wt% VA, adhesion to polar surfaces improves but low-temperature flexibility remains limited. The 28 wt% VA level provides a measurable reduction in heat-seal initiation temperature and an increase in aluminium foil adhesion when compared with 18 wt% VA material, as assessed by ASTM F2029 seal-strength curves and ASTM D1876 T-peel testing. Relative to 33 wt% or 40 wt% VA grades, ELVAX 3180 has lower tack and higher cohesive strength, making it less prone to cold flow in non-pressure-sensitive assembly adhesives.
Within the 28 wt% VA family, melt flow rates of 3 g/10 min, 6 g/10 min, 25 g/10 min, and 43 g/10 min correspond to sequential reductions in molecular weight. The 25 g/10 min position balances melt handling against cohesive strength. Lower-MFR grades are favoured in high-shear wheel-applied assembly adhesives where heat resistance and narrow open time are required; higher-MFR grades are selected for low-temperature spray applications and for extrusion coating where line speed is controlled by melt pump capacity. ELVAX 3180 therefore differs not by composition but by rheological position. It is a mid-flow 28 wt% VA resin that can be used where a 6 g/10 min grade creates excessive backpressure or where a 43 g/10 min grade fails to provide sufficient tensile strength.
| Nominal MFR | Relative molecular weight | Typical processing implication |
|---|---|---|
| 3 g/10 min | High | High viscosity, high cohesive strength, narrow processing window |
| 6 g/10 min | Medium high | General compounding, wheel-applied adhesives, sheet extrusion |
| 25 g/10 min | Medium | ELVAX 3180 position; spray and slot-die adhesive, lower backpressure |
| 43 g/10 min | Low | Very low application viscosity, low-temperature hot-melt processing |
Because pendant acetate units hinder crystallization, ELVAX 3180 develops a broader melting range and lower heat-seal initiation temperature than unmodified low-density polyethylene. Extrusion coating lines with a 300 mm slot die and chill roll at 10–15 °C use the material for paper, polyester film, and aluminium foil lamination at coating thicknesses from 15 µm to 50 µm. Adhesion to aluminium foil relies on polar interaction with the aluminium oxide surface. Reproducible peel strength requires corona treatment or chemical priming and is measured by ASTM D1876. Heat-seal initiation temperature is determined by ASTM F2029; the value is lower than that of 12 wt% VA EVA and higher than that of 33 wt% VA material, making the grade used in laminates requiring a balance between seal-through contamination resistance and hot-tack window.
Injection-moulded parts made from ELVAX 3180 display lower Shore D hardness and higher elongation than 18 wt% VA EVA when tested under ASTM D2240 and ASTM D638 Type IV specimens at 23 °C. The material is processed in conventional reciprocating-screw machines with clamp force sufficient for thin-wall flexible parts; melt temperature is held below 200 °C to avoid acetic acid odour and mould deposit. Published data on mould shrinkage for this specific grade are limited, but EVA copolymers of 28 wt% VA typically exhibit mould shrinkage below 2% depending on part thickness, gate geometry, and mould temperature.
Regulatory status is not determined by the neat resin alone. For food-contact applications, the resin can be referenced for compliance with 21 CFR 177.1350, which addresses ethylene-vinyl acetate copolymers. The final article or adhesive must meet applicable extraction and migration limits under the intended conditions of use. In the European Union, Regulation (EU) No 10/2011 applies to plastic materials and articles intended for food contact; specific migration limits for vinyl acetate and any additive decomposition products must be confirmed by migration testing. RoHS Directive 2011/65/EU does not restrict the base polymer, but formulated compounds must be screened for restricted substances if pigments, recycled content, or flame-retardant additives are introduced. REACH Regulation (EC) No 1907/2006 and the SVHC candidate list require supply-chain documentation and registration checks.
Electrical insulation applications require verification of volume resistivity and dielectric strength per ASTM D257 and ASTM D149, respectively, because these values are strongly affected by humidity, filler content, and processing voids. The material is not inherently flame retardant; any UL 94 classification is formulation-dependent. Weathering resistance is limited. Long-term outdoor exposure causes chain scission and loss of elongation. Accelerated weathering data generated according to ASTM G154 may be used for screening, but published data for ELVAX 3180 in a specific outdoor formulation are limited.
Operational boundaries include avoidance of melt residence times longer than 30 min above 200 °C, which can produce gels and acetic acid odour. The resin is not compounded with amine-based additives or strongly alkaline fillers that accelerate deacetylation, nor with halogenated flame retardants requiring processing temperatures above 230 °C. Storage in dry, unheated conditions below 40 °C is recommended; opened bags are consumed within 6 months to limit dust pickup and moisture absorption. Batch-to-batch variance in melt flow rate is controlled by the manufacturer, but adhesive formulators typically recheck melt index and VA content before releasing large campaigns because small changes in molecular weight alter open time, set time, and die pressure. Production-scale experience with this grade is concentrated in hot-melt adhesive and extrusion coating lines. Performance in other applications must be validated under full-scale conditions, as pilot-line data may not predict commercial line behaviour.
