| HS Code | 685249 |
| Product | Soarnol DC3203RB |
| Manufacturer | Nippon Gohsei (Mitsubishi Chemical) |
| Resin Type | Ethylene vinyl alcohol (EVOH) copolymer |
| Ethylene Content | 32 mol% |
| Melt Flow Rate | 3.2 g/10 min at 210°C, 2.16 kg |
| Density | 1.19 g/cm³ |
| Melting Point | 183°C |
| Glass Transition Temperature | 62°C |
| Tensile Strength At Yield | 70 MPa |
| Elongation At Break | 230% |
| Flexural Modulus | 2700 MPa |
| Oxygen Transmission Rate | 0.4 cm³/(m²·day·atm) at 20°C, 65% RH, 20 µm film |
As an accredited Soarnol DC3203RB factory, we enforce strict quality protocols—every batch undergoes rigorous testing to ensure consistent efficacy and safety standards.
| Packing | Soarnol DC3203RB is supplied in 25 kg moisture-protective, polyethylene-lined bags for safe storage and handling. |
| Container Loading (20′ FCL) | 20′ FCL of Soarnol DC3203RB resin packed in 25kg bags on shrink-wrapped pallets, loaded securely for safe transit. |
| Shipping | Soarnol DC3203RB is an EVOH resin supplied as solid pellets, typically packaged in moisture-barrier bags, drums, or bulk containers. It is non-hazardous under transport regulations, shipped by sea, road, or rail in dry, ventilated conditions. Avoid moisture exposure, high heat, and direct sunlight during transit to preserve quality. |
| Storage | Store Soarnol DC3203RB in a cool, dry, well-ventilated area away from direct sunlight, heat, and ignition sources. Keep the original container tightly sealed to prevent moisture absorption, as the resin is hygroscopic. Avoid storage near oxidizing agents. Maintain moderate humidity and temperature; under proper conditions, shelf life is typically up to two years. |
| Shelf Life | Soarnol DC3203RB has a typical shelf life of 2 years when stored unopened in a cool, dry place. |
A 1.5 mm five-layer polypropylene/tie/Soarnol DC3203RB/tie/polypropylene sheet with a layer distribution of 45%/2%/6%/2%/45% is produced on a line pairing a 120 mm main extruder of 30:1 L/D with a 25 mm barrier extruder of 28:1 L/D. The Soarnol DC3203RB resin is pre-dried in a desiccant hopper at 80 °C for 4–6 h to a moisture content below 0.1% before entering the feed throat. Melt temperature for the DC3203RB layer is held at 215 °C ± 5 °C, while the die body and both polypropylene skin layers are run at 225 °C ± 3 °C. The die lip gap is set between 2.0 mm and 2.4 mm to avoid shear fracture at the EVOH/tie interface. The 32 mol% ethylene content of this grade provides sufficient elongation for plug-assisted thermoforming of tray cavities up to 60 mm depth at a draw ratio of 1.5:1. The barrier contribution is measured as oxygen transmission rate per ASTM D3985 at 23 °C and 50% RH, with conditioned samples showing values in the range of 0.8–1.6 cm³/m²·day·atm for a 15 µm EVOH core, depending on tie-layer thickness and polypropylene moisture contribution. The addition ratio of Soarnol DC3203RB is constrained to a discrete core layer at 5–7% of total sheet thickness, not as a melt blend into the polypropylene skin; tie layers of maleic anhydride-grafted polypropylene remain at 2–3% each. Post-industrial trim from the thermoforming skeleton is incorporated at 15–20 wt% only into the non-food-contact outer polypropylene layer; introducing EVOH-containing regrind into the food-contact skin produces haze and gel formation, and can distort the barrier layer in subsequent sheet extrusion. Thermal degradation of the EVOH layer occurs when melt residence time exceeds 25 min at 225 °C, producing acetic acid odour and gel particles in the trimmed sheet. Batch-to-batch melt viscosity variation in DC3203RB is observed as layer-thickness drift when the barrier extruder speed is not under closed-loop control, requiring adjustment within ±2 rpm to maintain core-layer uniformity. Industry compliance for this configuration is assessed against FDA 21 CFR 177.1360, EU 10/2011, GB 4806.7, and REACH Article 33 declarations for the complete sheet. Terminal finished products include structured cheese trays, dairy snack cups, and low-oxygen sauce trays requiring 30–60 days of chilled shelf life when combined with a lidding film of comparable barrier contribution.
| Standard / test method | Application to five-layer PP/tie/Soarnol DC3203RB/tie/PP sheet | Measured property / limit condition |
|---|---|---|
| FDA 21 CFR 177.1360 | EVOH layer for food-contact use | Extractives and polymer identity per paragraph (a) |
| EU 10/2011 | Overall migration from complete sheet | ≤ 10 mg/dm² for simulant assigned under Annex III |
| GB 4806.7 | Food-contact plastic materials | Total migration and potassium permanganate consumption |
| ASTM D3985 | Oxygen transmission rate at 23 °C | Conditioned at 50% RH, 0% RH, 85% RH |
| ASTM D638 | Tensile properties after thermoforming | Tensile yield and elongation at break of sheet |
In a seven-layer cast film line producing 85 µm lidding film for low-oxygen modified-atmosphere packaging, the layer sequence LLDPE/tie/polyamide/tie/Soarnol DC3203RB/tie/sealant is arranged with the EVOH layer at 6–8% of total thickness, each tie layer at 3–4%, the polyamide layer at 8%, and the LLDPE skin at 20–25%; the remaining 35–40% is the peelable sealant layer. The line uses seven extruders: a 90 mm main extruder with 30:1 L/D for the LLDPE skin, a 35 mm barrier extruder with 24:1 L/D for the EVOH, and a chill roll set to 10–14 °C. The air gap between die and chill roll is maintained at 80–120 mm to control neck-in and preserve EVOH layer thickness uniformity. Feedblock and die temperatures are held at 220–230 °C; the EVOH melt temperature is not allowed to exceed 225 °C for more than 20 min residence time to avoid acetic acid volatilization and gel formation. The EVOH layer is pre-dried to below 0.1% moisture. The main differentiation in this cast-film application is the rapid quench, which freezes a lower crystallinity morphology in the EVOH core and reduces oxygen transmission at 50% RH compared with slower-cooled sheet; the film is conditioned at 23 °C and 50% RH and tested according to ASTM F1927-20 and ISO 15105-2. Oxygen transmission for the complete 85 µm lidding film typically falls between 0.6 cm³/m²·day·atm and 1.2 cm³/m²·day·atm depending on sealant layer thickness and residual casting solvent. Production-scale failure modes include gauge bands parallel to the machine direction when the die lips are thermally uneven, and interfacial voids at the polyamide/tie interface when moisture in the polyamide exceeds 0.15%. Industry compliance is evaluated under FDA 21 CFR 177.1360 and EU 10/2011, with overall migration below 10 mg/dm² in food simulants assigned to fatty and aqueous food types. Terminal products are peelable lidding films for sliced processed meat, cheese, and fresh pasta trays sealed under a 0.5% residual oxygen target in the modified-atmosphere headspace.
A six-layer parison with HDPE/regrind/tie/Soarnol DC3203RB/tie/HDPE layer sequencing enters the mold at a programmed wall thickness of 3.5 mm near the pinch-off and 1.2 mm in the body of a 7 L small-engine fuel tank. The addition ratio of the barrier layer is 2.5–4% of total tank wall thickness; the tie layers each account for 1.5%, the regrind layer for 25%, and the HDPE inner/outer skins for the balance. In continuous coextrusion blow molding, the HDPE skins are extruded at 230–240 °C, while the DC3203RB core is maintained at 210–215 °C through the adapter and die head; the die head itself is run at 210–220 °C. The accumulator head and parison programmer are set to create a 10–15 mm pre-blow delay after mold close, with a blow pressure of 8–10 bar. The critical process conflict is the mismatch between the HDPE melt strength and the EVOH core viscosity at the pinch-off seam; insufficient clamp force or a mold temperature below 10 °C causes EVOH layer thinning and occasional delamination at the seam, which is detected by a 25 kV leak test after trimming. Permeation testing of the complete tank wall is performed according to SAE J2659 with CE10 fuel at 40 °C; the design target hydrocarbon permeation is typically below 2.0 g/m²·day for the complete wall structure, though published data for this specific configuration is limited and line trials are required to verify seam permeation. Industry compliance references include EPA 40 CFR Part 1060 evaporative emission requirements for small off-road engines, California CARB evaporative emission requirements, and UNECE Regulation No. 34 Annex 5 for fuel tank fire safety. Terminal finished products are fuel tanks for portable generators, lawn mowers, and marine outboard equipment where low hydrocarbon permeation and drop-impact resistance must be combined.
After an inline leak test and flame treatment on a 500 mL five-layer extrusion blow-molded bottle, the PP/tie/Soarnol DC3203RB/tie/PP wall structure is trimmed at the neck and base. The layer ratio is 90% polypropylene skins, 2% each tie layer, and 3–4% Soarnol DC3203RB core. The main polypropylene extruder uses a 65 mm screw at 24:1 L/D, and the barrier extruder uses a 35 mm screw at 24:1 L/D. The EVOH is dried at 80 °C for 4 h, and the melt temperature at the die is 210–215 °C; the polypropylene skins are processed at 220–230 °C. The die head is a five-layer spiral mandrel design with a land gap of 1.8–2.2 mm, and the mold cooling water is held at 8–12 °C. The cycle time for a 500 mL bottle is 13–18 s depending on wall thickness profiling. Flame treatment is set to a wetting tension target of 42 mN/m measured by ASTM D2578 before labelling or sleeving. The key differentiation from the thermoformed tray case is the need for EVOH layer concentricity within ±0.5% of nominal wall thickness; an eccentric barrier layer causes a drop in oxygen barrier and creates a stress concentration during top-load compression. Oxygen transmission of the finished bottle is measured by ASTM D3985 at 23 °C and 50% RH, with the design target below 0.05 cm³/package·day·atm for a 500 mL package. Compliance for food-contact liquid condiments is referenced to FDA 21 CFR 177.1360 and EU 10/2011, with overall migration not exceeding 10 mg/dm² in assigned food simulants. Terminal finished products are high-acid sauce bottles, soy sauce bottles, and flavour emulsion bottles where oxygen ingress would otherwise oxidize aroma compounds and darken colour.
A 108 µm seven-layer retort pouch laminate places the Soarnol DC3203RB core between two tie resin films and a 60 µm cast polypropylene sealing layer. The layer stack is BOPET/adhesive/BOPA/tie/DC3203RB/tie/CPP, in which the EVOH core is 12 µm, or 10–12% of total thickness after lamination. The pouch is formed on a horizontal form-fill-seal machine with seal bar temperature 185 °C and dwell time 0.8–1.2 s. The retort condition is 121 °C for 30 min at 1.8 bar overpressure. The main process conflict is that the CPP sealing layer absorbs moisture during retort and creates a water activity front that reaches the EVOH core; the EVOH oxygen barrier is plasticized by absorbed water, and oxygen transmission measured by ASTM F1927 after retort can be 1.5–3× higher than the pre-retort value before the pouch regains a lower equilibrium moisture content. To counteract this, the CPP layer is maintained at 60–70 µm and the EVOH layer is overdesigned by 20–30% relative to non-retort barrier calculations. The tie layers use maleic anhydride-grafted polypropylene with peel strength above 2.5 N/15 mm after retort when tested according to ASTM F88; adhesion failure at the tie/EVOH interface is the primary field failure during the first 7 days after retort. The compliance framework includes FDA 21 CFR 177.1360, EU 10/2011, and GB 4806.7, with the additional requirement that the complete pouch must withstand 121 °C for 30 min without delamination or seal failure. Terminal finished products are retort pouches for ready meals, rice, and pet food with a shelf life target of 12–24 months at ambient storage.
Bag-in-box liner production for 220 L aseptic tomato paste employs a 75 µm four-layer cast coextruded film in the sequence LLDPE/tie/Soarnol DC3203RB/tie/LLDPE. The Soarnol DC3203RB layer is set to 4–6% of film thickness, each tie layer 2–3%, and the LLDPE skins the remaining 90%. The cast film line is run with a chill roll temperature of 15 °C and a line speed of 120–180 m/min; the EVOH is pre-dried at 80 °C for 4–6 h and extruded at 210–220 °C. The critical requirement in this application is flex-crack resistance during bag-in-box filling, transport, and discharge; repeated film flexing is simulated by ASTM F392 Gelbo flex testing at 10 cycles, after which oxygen transmission must not increase by more than 2× relative to the unflexed film. The unflexed oxygen transmission for the 75 µm structure is measured by ASTM D3985 at 23 °C and 50% RH, with a typical design window of 2.0–3.0 cm³/m²·day·atm because the LLDPE skins and tie layers contribute to the total barrier. Compliance for aseptic food contact is assigned under FDA 21 CFR 177.1360 and EU 10/2011; the liner must also meet overall migration limits below 10 mg/dm² in the acidic aqueous food simulant corresponding to tomato paste. Terminal finished products are 220 L bag-in-box liners for tomato paste, fruit concentrates, and low-viscosity sauces where oxygen ingress control must be maintained over 4–6 weeks of ambient storage after opening.
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Product description for Soarnol DC3203RB addresses a commercial ethylene-vinyl alcohol copolymer in the 32 mol% ethylene series. The grade is supplied for use as an internal barrier layer in coextruded rigid sheet, film, and blow-molded containers. Typical published lot-average values include a melt flow rate of 3.2 g/10 min measured at 210 °C under a 2.16 kg load in accordance with ISO 1133-1:2022, a solid density of 1.19 g/cm³ by ISO 1183-1:2019, and a peak melting endotherm of 183 °C by ISO 11357-3:2018. These values position the resin between lower-ethylene EVOH grades that provide higher dry oxygen barrier but lower moisture tolerance, and higher-ethylene EVOH grades that provide wider forming latitude at reduced barrier. Lot-specific certificates of analysis should be consulted because the values are typical, not specification limits.
| Parameter | Typical value | Test method |
| Ethylene comonomer content | 32 mol% | Internal FTIR or NMR calibration |
| Melt flow rate | 3.2 g/10 min | ISO 1133-1:2022, 210 °C, 2.16 kg |
| Density | 1.19 g/cm³ | ISO 1183-1:2019 |
| Peak melting temperature | 183 °C | ISO 11357-3:2018 |
| Oxygen permeability of monolayer film | Reported on finished structure; no single-point specification | ASTM D3985-17 at 20 °C, 65% RH |
A direct substitution from a 29 mol% ethylene grade to DC3203RB produces a measurable change in processing behavior. The lower ethylene grade exhibits a peak melting point closer to 191 °C and generally requires a tighter melt-temperature envelope because of its higher crystallinity. Increasing the ethylene content to 32 mol% reduces crystallinity and melting point, which lowers the onset of thermoform-induced microcracking in plug-assisted forming. On aluminium plug tooling maintained near 120 °C, the grade can accommodate deeper draw ratios without visible stress whitening in the EVOH layer. The same structural change reduces dry-condition oxygen barrier by an amount that becomes operationally significant when the barrier layer falls below 10 µm. Converters running high-speed contact-heating lines should verify gel accumulation behavior on their specific die geometry, because gel-related deposits are influenced more by residence time, die surface roughness, and start-up purging than by ethylene content alone.
Oxygen transmission through DC3203RB is dominated by moisture uptake, because water plasticizes EVOH and raises oxygen permeability. At 20 °C and 65% RH, the 32 mol% ethylene class typically equilibrates near 2.5 wt% moisture; at 85% RH, equilibrium moisture can exceed 5 wt%. Oxygen transmission measured by ASTM D3985-17 on a 25 µm cast film can increase by roughly one order of magnitude between 65% RH and 90% RH. In high-humidity packaging, the EVOH layer is therefore positioned behind a polyolefin moisture barrier, and the adjacent tie layers are selected to limit delamination caused by water exposure at the interface. In retortable structures, DC3203RB is used as an internal layer between polypropylene and maleic anhydride-grafted tie resin. Post-retort recovery of oxygen barrier is not instantaneous; after exposure to steam retort conditions near 121 °C, the structure may require more than 72 h at 20 °C and 65% RH before oxygen transmission approaches pre-retort values. Panel geometry, tie-layer thickness, and retort cycle profile control the recovery rate, so grade-specific data should be requested from the supplier for the target package format.
Before coextrusion, DC3203RB should be dried to below 0.01% moisture. A desiccant dryer operating at 80–90 °C with a dewpoint of −40 °C or lower for 4–6 h is commonly specified when sacks have been opened longer than 4 h at >60% RH. Residual moisture at the feed throat produces bubble defects in the EVOH layer and reduces interlayer peel strength. Melt temperature measured at the adapter should normally be held between 205 °C and 225 °C. Sustained operation above 240 °C accelerates gel formation and can generate black specks after 20–30 min of residence time. Extruder barrels for the EVOH layer should use 24:1 to 30:1 L/D single-screw designs with low-shear barrier screws and compression ratios not exceeding 3.5:1. Frequent purging with a low-melt-index polyolefin is recommended before shutdown to prevent carbonized resin deposits in static mixer elements and feedblock zones.
Coextruded structures using DC3203RB commonly position the resin as an internal layer at 3–10% of total thickness. Outer layers are typically polypropylene homopolymer, high-density polyethylene, or polyester, with maleic anhydride-grafted polyolefin tie layers on both sides of the EVOH. In polypropylene thermoforming sheet, the EVOH layer is coextruded between a polypropylene cap layer and a random copolymer sealant layer. Die temperatures are held near 230 °C, and transfer lines are designed to keep total melt residence time below 15 min. In blow molding, continuous extrusion heads should use side-fed or spiral designs that avoid dead spots where EVOH can stagnate. Interlayer adhesion is qualified by ASTM F904 peel testing on flat sheet, with minimum acceptable values typically from 2.5 N/15 mm to 5.0 N/15 mm depending on tie-layer grade, thickness, and conditioning history.
Reformulation from a 29 mol% EVOH to DC3203RB shifts the sheet preheat window because the higher ethylene content lowers the melting point. A 29 mol% grade may require sheet surface temperatures of 165–180 °C before usable sag occurs, while DC3203RB can be formed at surface temperatures closer to 160 °C, reducing polypropylene sag and improving gauge distribution on large draw ratios. The penalty is a measurable reduction in oxygen barrier at low humidity. For a 25 µm EVOH layer, the 29 mol% grade typically shows lower oxygen transmission at 20 °C and 0% RH, while DC3203RB retains more barrier after flexural loading. Flex-crack resistance is qualified using a Gelbo flex tester with 50 or 100 flex cycles followed by oxygen transmission measurement under ASTM D3985-17. DC3203RB is specified where repeated package deformation exceeds 5% strain during downstream handling, whereas the lower ethylene grade may be selected where dry-condition barrier is the sole acceptance criterion and deformation is minimal.
DC3203RB is supplied as an ethylene-vinyl alcohol copolymer for use in food-contact packaging when incorporated into a finished multilayer structure. Regulatory coverage must be confirmed for the specific package format and food type, because final compliance depends on layer construction, migration test results, and the intended food simulant.
| Regulation or standard | Applicability | Verification requirement |
| 21 CFR 177.1360 | Ethylene-vinyl alcohol copolymers in food-contact articles under stated conditions of use | Supplier food-contact statement and end-use migration testing where required |
| Commission Regulation (EU) No 10/2011 | Plastic materials and articles intended to come into contact with food | Declaration of compliance for the finished multilayer article |
| Regulation (EC) No 1935/2004 | Framework regulation for food-contact materials | Overall migration and organoleptic evaluation on final package |
| REACH Regulation (EC) No 1907/2006 | Registration and safety data requirements for substances in the EU | Safety data sheet and supplier confirmation for the commercial grade |
| ISO 9001 | Quality management system for resin manufacture and supply | Lot traceability and certificate of analysis |
Compared with 38 mol% and 44 mol% ethylene EVOH grades, DC3203RB provides higher dry oxygen barrier and greater flexural modulus, but it exhibits a narrower thermoforming window and higher equilibrium moisture uptake in humidified environments. At equivalent layer thickness, a 44 mol% grade shows lower oxygen transmission after retort shock and lower post-retort haze, while DC3203RB offers lower oxygen transmission under dry or intermediate-humidity conditions measured by ASTM D3985-17. The operational boundary is defined by melt temperature above 240 °C, residence time beyond 20 min, and EVOH regrind fractions exceeding 5 wt% in polyolefin edge-trim recycle. Above that regrind level, visible gels and surface roughness can appear on sheet and bottle parisons. In structures thicker than 800 µm, converters should monitor edge trim contamination by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy or melt filtration because EVOH domains do not disperse into polyolefin matrices under normal recycling conditions.
