| HS Code | 473086 |
| Polymer Type | Ethylene Vinyl Alcohol Copolymer (EVOH) |
| Appearance | White translucent pellets |
| Ethylene Content | 38 mol% |
| Density | 1.17 g/cm³ at 23°C |
| Melting Point | 172°C |
| Glass Transition Temperature | 58°C |
| Melt Flow Rate | 1.1 g/10 min (190°C, 2.16 kg) |
| Tensile Strength | 75 MPa |
| Elongation At Break | 300% |
| Tensile Modulus | 2800 MPa |
| Oxygen Transmission Rate | 0.4 cm³·mm/(m²·day·atm) at 20°C, 65% RH |
| Water Vapor Transmission Rate | 1.0 g·mm/(m²·day·atm) at 40°C, 90% RH |
As an accredited EVOH EV-3851 V/F factory, we enforce strict quality protocols—every batch undergoes rigorous testing to ensure consistent efficacy and safety standards.
| Packing | EVOH EV-3851 V/F is supplied in 25 kg sealed, moisture-proof polyethylene-lined paper bags, preserving barrier properties. |
| Container Loading (20′ FCL) | Container Loading (20′ FCL) for EVOH EV-3851 V/F: resin packed in a 20-foot full container, palletized, secured, and ready for safe transport. |
| Shipping | EVOH EV-3851 V/F is an ethylene vinyl alcohol copolymer resin supplied as pellets for extrusion/coating. Ship in dry, clean, moisture-proof packaging to prevent moisture absorption and contamination. Store in a cool, ventilated area away from heat, ignition sources, and incompatible oxidizers. Handle gently to minimize dust and static accumulation. |
| Storage | Store in a dry, well-ventilated area away from direct sunlight, heat sources, and open flames. Keep the original container tightly closed to prevent moisture absorption, as EVOH is hygroscopic. Avoid exposure to high humidity and extreme temperatures. Use within the recommended shelf life to maintain quality. |
| Shelf Life | Shelf life is 2 years from manufacture if stored unopened, cool, and dry, protected from moisture and contamination. |
On cast coextrusion lines producing PP/tie/EVOH/tie/PP sheet for thermoformed dairy and deli trays, EVOH EV-3851 V/F, a grade with ethylene content of 38 mol%, is fed through a dedicated 38 mm single-screw extruder with an L/D ratio of 30:1 and a barrier-type screw having a compression ratio between 2.5:1 and 3.0:1. Pellets are dried in a desiccant hopper dryer at 80 °C to 90 °C with a dew point not exceeding -40 °C until residual moisture falls below 0.3 wt%; failure to maintain this dew point produces hydrolysis, gel specks, and layer-thickness oscillation. The EVOH melt stream is maintained at 190 °C to 220 °C, the die is held at 220 °C to 230 °C, and the PP skins run at 210 °C to 240 °C. Layer distribution places the EVOH core at 4 wt% to 6 wt% of total sheet thickness, with maleated polypropylene tie layers at 2 wt% to 3 wt% per side and PP skins carrying the balance; sheet thickness ranges from 600 µm to 1,500 µm. The terminal thermoformed trays, used for sliced processed meats, cheese, and ready-meal components, are tested under ASTM D3985-17 at 23 °C and 0 % RH to confirm oxygen transmission below 0.5 cm³·20 µm/(m²·day·atm) for the EVOH layer, while food-contact compliance is verified under FDA 21 CFR 177.1350 and (EU) No 10/2011, Annex I, with overall migration tested according to EN 1186-1:2002 at 40 °C for 10 days using simulant D2 for fatty foods.
In five-layer blown film for vacuum skin packaging of poultry, seafood, and fresh red meat, EVOH EV-3851 V/F is coextruded as a core layer typically 3 µm to 5 µm thick within a total film gauge of 60 µm to 90 µm. The line is configured with separate extruders for the PE skins, maleic anhydride-grafted polyolefin tie resins, and EVOH, feeding a spiral mandrel die with a die gap of 1.6 mm to 2.2 mm and a blow-up ratio of 2.0:1 to 2.5:1; frost-line height is controlled at 600 mm to 900 mm to stabilise the fluctuating EVOH layer. Because EVOH barrier performance is highly dependent on plasticisation by water, the dry film oxygen transmission rate at 23 °C and 0 % RH measured according to ASTM D3985-17 can be below 0.5 cm³·20 µm/(m²·day·atm), but at 85 % RH the same layer may exhibit a transmission increase of one to two orders of magnitude. Package design places the EVOH closer to the external layer when the packaged meat is high-surface-moisture, and closer to the food-contact layer only when the distribution chain remains chilled and humidity within the pack is moderated by absorbent pads. Terminal applications include vacuum pouches, flow-pack lidding, and thermoformed MAP trays for case-ready products; post-packaging leak verification is performed according to ASTM F2338-20, with headspace oxygen concentration held below 0.5 % for high-barrier red meat applications.
A six-layer reciprocating-screw blow moulder producing 250 mL to 5 L HDPE/EVOH bottles for soy sauce, edible oil, and low-acid sauces runs a structure of HDPE outer skin, regrind, tie, EVOH EV-3851 V/F, tie, and food-contact HDPE inner skin. The EVOH core is held at 3 wt% to 5 wt% of finished wall thickness, with tie layers of maleic anhydride-grafted HDPE at 1.5 wt% to 2.5 wt% per side. The EVOH stream is dried to below 0.3 wt% moisture in a twin-tower desiccant dryer and extruded at 185 °C to 205 °C, while the HDPE skins run at 190 °C to 220 °C; the accumulator head and parison programmer are set to maintain a continuous EVOH core through the pinch-off, because wall thinning at the pinch-off can create a localised barrier vacancy if the parison swell ratio is not compensated. Container oxygen transmission is tested after conditioning at 23 °C and 50 % RH according to ASTM F1307-20, with target values below 0.01 cm³/(package·day·atm) for a 500 mL bottle at shelf-life conditions. Food-contact status is documented under FDA 21 CFR 177.1350 and (EU) No 10/2011. Terminal products include soy sauce bottles, edible oil bottles, and low-acid sauce containers where oxygen ingress below the target threshold prevents oxidative rancidity and colour change.
| Downstream sector | Regulatory or consensus reference | Test method | Critical requirement |
|---|---|---|---|
| Food-contact rigid sheet and film | FDA 21 CFR 177.1350 | EN 1186-1:2002 | Overall migration < 10 mg/dm² |
| EU food-contact plastics | (EU) No 10/2011 Annex I | EN 1186-1:2002 | Overall migration < 10 mg/dm² |
| Automotive fuel tank | EPA 40 CFR Part 86; CARB LEV III | SHED evaporative testing | Vehicle-level evaporative HC limit |
| Medical device packaging | ISO 11607-1:2019 | ASTM F88/F88M-21 | Sterile barrier integrity and seal strength |
| Dangerous goods packaging | UN Model Regulations Chapter 6.1 | Leakproofness and hydrostatic pressure test | Packaging type 6HA1 performance |
Because EVOH EV-3851 V/F retains sufficient oxygen barrier after coextrusion with thin LLDPE skins, it is used in five-layer coextruded tube sleeve lines where the final coextruded tube wall is 250 µm to 350 µm thick and the EVOH layer occupies 6 % to 8 % of that gauge. The sleeve is extruded through a cylindrical pin-and-die crosshead at melt temperatures of 190 °C to 210 °C for the EVOH stream and 200 °C to 230 °C for the polyethylene skins, then cut to length and welded to injection-moulded shoulders; the critical defect is delamination at the shoulder weld caused by residual EVOH moisture, so pellets are held below 0.3 wt% moisture before extrusion. Terminal products include barrier tubes for cosmetic creams, hair colorants, and toothpaste where fragrance and oxygen-sensitive actives require an oxygen transmission rate below 0.8 cm³·20 µm/(m²·day·atm) at 23 °C and 0 % RH under ASTM D3985-17. Chemical compatibility of the tube with filling contents is assessed by EN 1186-1:2002 overall migration testing where the tube is used as a food-contact barrier layer, while cosmetic packaging safety is documented under Regulation (EC) No 1223/2009 as a packaging component and not as a cosmetic ingredient.
Fuel tank coextrusion imposes a narrower processing window on EVOH EV-3851 V/F than food packaging: the EVOH melt temperature is held between 190 °C and 215 °C because the adjacent HDPE skins run at 210 °C to 230 °C, and extended residence above 230 °C can initiate thermal degradation that increases gel formation and weakens the tie-layer interface. The blow moulder is an accumulator-head machine with three-dimensional parison manipulation and programmable wall-thickness control, capable of producing tanks from 40 L to 90 L; the EVOH layer is typically 1.5 wt% to 3.0 wt% of the nominal wall thickness, with maleic anhydride-grafted HDPE tie layers on both sides. Pinch-off weld geometry is the dominant failure mode: insufficient pressurisation of the pinch-off zone creates a barrier discontinuity at the weld, while excessive pinch-off compression reduces only the EVOH layer thickness, increasing steady-state permeation. Tank permeation is validated by sealed housing evaporative determination under EPA 40 CFR Part 86 evaporative emission procedures, with hydrocarbon permeation limits referenced to CARB LEV III evaporative emission requirements; published data for this specific EV-3851 V/F tank configuration is limited, so production validation typically uses emission data from the complete vehicle evaporative system rather than resin-level declarations. Terminal components include multilayer fuel tanks, filler necks, and onboard refuelling vapour recovery lines for gasoline and ethanol-blended fuel systems; immersion testing for fuel resistance is performed according to ASTM D543-20 with Fuel C and Fuel CE10 at 40 °C.
In agricultural chemical packaging, the barrier layer is positioned between high-density polyethylene skins so the EVOH core is shielded from direct contact with aqueous formulations, because prolonged exposure to water-rich products raises the oxygen transmission rate through plasticisation. Five-layer extrusion blow-moulded bottles for 0.5 L to 5 L plant protection products are produced with the EVOH EV-3851 V/F layer at 1.5 wt% to 2.5 wt%, maleic anhydride-grafted HDPE tie layers at 1.0 wt% to 1.5 wt% per side, and HDPE skins containing post-consumer recycled material only in the outer layer when approved by the end-use specification. Coextrusion temperature control is critical because adsorbed moisture in recycled HDPE can raise the local water content at the tie interface, so the EVOH pellets are dried to below 0.3 wt% and the machine is purged with low-density polyethylene before shutdown to displace EVOH from the head and prevent crosslinked residue. These containers are conditioned and tested for oxygen transmission using ASTM F1307-20 and for moisture vapour transmission using ASTM F1249-20; where aggressive polar solvents or amine-containing formulations are filled, compatibility must be verified because plasticisation of EVOH can decrease barrier function by more than 50 %. Transport compliance is documented under the UN Recommendations on the Transport of Dangerous Goods, Model Regulations, Chapter 6.1, for packaging type 6HA1, including leakproofness and hydrostatic pressure tests.
Ethylene oxide sterilisation exposes the packaging structure to elevated humidity and aeration cycles, which makes EVOH EV-3851 V/F suitable for lidding films only when the EVOH layer is protected by high-barrier external layers or when the extended post-sterilisation aeration period is controlled to remove residual water. A typical lidding web for medical devices is a coextruded or adhesive-laminated structure of PET/tie/EVOH/tie/PE with an EVOH layer thickness of 5 µm to 12 µm and a total web thickness of 70 µm to 120 µm; the EVOH layer is cast or blown at 190 °C to 220 °C and is not exposed to steam sterilisation because the water saturation at 121 °C or greater reduces barrier properties and can induce delamination at the tie interface. Sterile barrier system validation is performed under ISO 11607-1:2019 for packaging materials and preformed sterile barrier systems, with seal strength tested per ASTM F88/F88M-21 and oxygen transmission per ASTM D3985-17 at 23 °C and 0 % RH. Cytotoxicity and biological evaluation of the packaging material are documented per ISO 10993-5:2009. Terminal products include peelable lidding films for PETG or PVC trays containing syringes, catheters, and surgical instruments where a high oxygen barrier prevents oxidative degradation of the device or its inner packaging; published data for EV-3851 V/F in radiation-sterilised configurations is limited, so dose-dependent barrier retention must be confirmed by post-irradiation OTR testing at the final sterilising dose.
Competitive EVOH EV-3851 V/F prices that fit your budget—flexible terms and customized quotes for every order.
For samples, pricing, or more information, please contact us at +8615380400285 or mail to sales2@liwei-chem.com.
We will respond to you as soon as possible.
Tel: +8615380400285
Email: sales2@liwei-chem.com
Flexible payment, competitive price, premium service - Inquire now!
EVOH EV-3851 V/F is an ethylene-vinyl alcohol copolymer with a nominal ethylene content of 38 mol% and a viscosity-controlled film-extrusion specification. The V/F suffix distinguishes the grade from standard 38 mol% ethylene-vinyl alcohol copolymers through a low melt flow rate, typically 1.7 g/10 min at 210°C under a 2.16 kg load in accordance with ISO 1133-1:2022. This elevated melt viscosity is intended to stabilize layer distribution in cast film, blown film, and coextrusion coating lines where draw resonance, edge neck-in, or barrier-layer thickness non-uniformity limits performance. The polymer is supplied as pellets with a density of 1.17 g/cm³ measured by ISO 1183-1:2019 and a melting point of 175°C measured by ISO 11357-3:2018. The 38 mol% ethylene backbone places the material between high-barrier 29 mol% grades and high-flexibility 44 mol% grades, retaining the oxygen barrier of medium-ethylene EVOH while improving melt processability under humid coextrusion conditions.
| Property | Typical value | Test method |
|---|---|---|
| Ethylene content | 38 mol% | ISO 14663-2 |
| Melt flow rate (210°C, 2.16 kg) | 1.7 g/10 min | ISO 1133-1:2022 |
| Density | 1.17 g/cm³ | ISO 1183-1:2019 |
| Melting point | 175°C | ISO 11357-3:2018 |
| Oxygen permeability (20 µm, 23°C, 0% RH) | 0.3–0.6 cm³·20 µm/(m²·day·atm) | ASTM D3985-17 |
| Oxygen permeability (20 µm, 23°C, 65% RH) | 1.2–2.0 cm³·20 µm/(m²·day·atm) | ASTM D3985-17 |
The primary difference from the standard 38 mol% grade E3808 is viscosity. E3808 is typically specified at 8.0 g/10 min under identical temperature and load conditions, while EV-3851 V/F is specified near 1.7 g/10 min. On a 30:1 L/D single-screw extruder equipped with a barrier screw, the low-MFR material generates higher head pressure at equivalent screw speed. Typical head pressures for cast film lines range from 80 bar to 120 bar depending on die width, throughput, and melt temperature, whereas the lower-viscosity grade may operate 15–25% lower. This pressure differential is not a defect but a processing variable that allows a wider die gap or lower draw ratio while maintaining layer uniformity. In coextrusion, the viscosity ratio between EV-3851 V/F and adjacent tie resins and polyolefins must be controlled; viscosity mismatch greater than 3:1 can produce interfacial waviness and barrier-layer thickness variation. The grade is therefore used when converter data show that a standard 8.0 g/10 min EVOH cannot hold a consistent barrier layer below 10 µm on high-speed lines.
| Grade | Ethylene content | Melt flow rate (210°C, 2.16 kg) | Melting point | Processing role |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| EV-3851 V/F | 38 mol% | 1.7 g/10 min | 175°C | High-viscosity film extrusion, gauge control |
| E3808 | 38 mol% | 8.0 g/10 min | 175°C | General coextrusion, lower head pressure |
| A4412 | 44 mol% | 12.0 g/10 min | 164°C | Retort and high-humidity flexible packaging |
| D2908 | 29 mol% | 8.0 g/10 min | 188°C | Rigid high-barrier containers in dry conditions |
Oxygen transmission rate is the critical barrier property for EVOH EV-3851 V/F. At 0% RH, a 20 µm layer of 38 mol% ethylene-vinyl alcohol copolymer typically exhibits oxygen permeability below 0.6 cm³·20 µm/(m²·day·atm) when measured by ASTM D3985-17. At 65% RH, reported class values rise to approximately 1.2–2.0 cm³·20 µm/(m²·day·atm), although the exact rise depends on thermal history, orientation, and layer encapsulation. The mechanism is moisture plasticization of the ethylene-vinyl alcohol copolymer: water disrupts interchain hydrogen bonding that restricts oxygen diffusion. In multilayer structures, EVOH is therefore placed between polyolefin layers and tie resins, with the outer polyolefin thickness sized to keep the EVOH layer below 60% RH in the intended distribution environment. Published data for this specific configuration is limited for some regional formulations; converters should request a certificate of analysis for the exact lot and conduct oxygen transmission testing after conversion.
EVOH EV-3851 V/F must be processed inside a narrow thermal window. Melt temperature should not exceed 240°C; the target range on most barrier film lines is 220–230°C. Degradation accelerates above 250°C, producing acetic acid, gel particles, and yellowing. The processing window around the die set point is approximately ±5°C because viscosity drift and gel formation become measurable with small temperature excursions. Residence time at melt temperature should remain below 20 min. Start-up and shutdown purging with LDPE or HDPE is required before and after EVOH processing. Purging with PVDC or PVC compounds is incompatible because halogenated residues release hydrogen chloride and catalyze EVOH degradation. Chrome-plated screw, barrel, adapters, and die surfaces reduce stagnation and gel accumulation. Screw geometry for the high-viscosity grade typically uses a compression ratio of 2.5–3.5:1 and an L/D ratio of 28–32:1. Low-shear barrier screws are preferred over high-shear general-purpose screws because excessive shear increases melt temperature and accelerates chain scission.
Pre-drying is mandatory at relative humidity above 60% or whenever pellet moisture exceeds 0.05% by weight. A desiccant dryer operating at 80–90°C for 4–6 h with a dew point of -40°C or lower brings EV-3851 V/F into acceptable moisture specification. Batch-to-batch variation in moisture content above 0.05% can shift melt viscosity and produce bubble instability in blown film. Foaming, surging, and film defects may appear if moisture is not removed. The high-viscosity grade is particularly sensitive to moisture-induced viscosity variation because the low MFR is controlled by molecular weight and hydrogen bonding. Contact with alkaline cleaning agents should also be avoided; EVOH hydrolyzes under high-pH conditions at elevated temperature, reducing molecular weight and barrier performance.
EV-3851 V/F is suitable for hot-fill and mild pasteurization structures, but its use in retort applications requires qualification. At 121°C, moisture ingress into the EVOH layer temporarily raises oxygen permeability. Medium-ethylene 38 mol% grades show higher initial oxygen barrier than 44 mol% grades, but under sustained retort humidity the 44 mol% grades may retain a more stable post-retort barrier because of lower moisture sensitivity. Converters evaluating EV-3851 V/F for retort packaging should measure oxygen transmission after retort cycle rather than only on pre-retort film. Layer design is critical: the EVOH layer should be encapsulated between polypropylene or high-density polyethylene and tie resin, with the EVOH layer typically representing 5–8% of total structure thickness. When the EVOH layer falls below 3 µm, defect density increases sharply and oxygen barrier becomes unpredictable, a threshold commonly observed on cast coextrusion lines. For hot-fill conditions from 85–95°C, the high-viscosity grade can maintain sufficient layer uniformity when the outer polyolefin caps are designed to minimize moisture accumulation at the EVOH interface.
Layer-to-layer adhesion is another operational boundary. Inorganic or organic surface contamination on the EVOH pellet can reduce tie-layer adhesion. Adhesion values in multilayer structures are typically evaluated by ASTM F904 or an equivalent seal-strength method, with acceptable values dependent on the end-use package geometry. The high viscosity of EV-3851 V/F can assist in maintaining consistent adhesion because it resists thinning at package corners and in deep-draw thermoforming. For deep-draw applications, plug-assisted thermoforming lines with heated mold temperatures between 90–110°C are used, and the EVOH layer must remain above 4 µm in the final corner section to avoid a barrier cliff. Published data for this specific configuration is limited for some converter setups; therefore, pilot-line trials with the intended film structure are required before commercial scale-up.
Regulatory compliance for EV-3851 V/F is established through food-contact status under FDA 21 CFR 177.1360 for ethylene-vinyl alcohol copolymers and through EU 10/2011 overall migration testing conducted by the supplier. REACH registration under EC 1907/2006 and RoHS compliance under 2011/65/EU are typically addressed by the polymer manufacturer, but converters must verify that the finished multilayer structure does not alter overall migration limits. The grade is not intended for direct contact with high-moisture liquid foods without polyolefin encapsulation, and its barrier performance is not stable under prolonged exposure to 100°C steam. Users should confirm lot-specific certificates of analysis for ethylene content, melt flow rate, and moisture content before processing, because published data for this specific configuration is limited in some regional documentation.
