| HS Code | 431480 |
| Vinyl Acetate Content | 7.5 wt% |
| Melt Flow Rate | 1.3 g/10min at 190°C/2.16kg |
| Density | 0.930 g/cm³ |
| Tensile Strength At Break | 24.8 MPa |
| Elongation At Break | 670% |
| Flexural Modulus | 72 MPa |
| Hardness | 45 Shore D |
| Vicat Softening Point | 83°C |
| Melting Point | 101°C |
| Brittleness Temperature | -75°C |
| Refractive Index | 1.500 |
| Volume Resistivity | 1.0E+15 ohm-cm |
As an accredited ELVAX 3120 Ethylene Vinyl Acetate Copolymer factory, we enforce strict quality protocols—every batch undergoes rigorous testing to ensure consistent efficacy and safety standards.
| Packing | ELVAX 3120 EVA copolymer pellets are packaged in 25 kg multi-walled paper bags, ensuring safe handling and storage. |
| Container Loading (20′ FCL) | 20′ FCL loading of ELVAX 3120 EVA copolymer: bagged on pallets, securely stowed, protected from heat/moisture, ensuring safe transport. |
| Shipping | ELVAX 3120 (EVA copolymer) ships as non-hazardous solid pellets in sealed bags or drums. Keep dry and avoid moisture absorption. Store away from heat/sparks; no special temperature control needed. Ensure proper labeling and ventilation during transport to prevent dust accumulation. Standard freight or trucking is suitable. |
| Storage | Store ELVAX 3120 Ethylene Vinyl Acetate Copolymer in a cool, dry, well-ventilated area away from direct sunlight, heat, sparks, and oxidizing agents. Keep containers tightly sealed when not in use to prevent contamination and moisture pickup. Avoid storage near open flames or hot surfaces. Follow manufacturer recommendations for shelf life and ventilation. |
| Shelf Life | Shelf life is typically 2 years when stored in a cool, dry place, protected from sunlight and moisture. |
ELVAX 3120 is an ethylene vinyl acetate copolymer with a nominal vinyl acetate content of 7.5 wt% and a melt flow rate of 1.2 g/10 min determined under ASTM D1238-20 Procedure A at 190°C and 2.16 kg. The density is 0.930 g/cm³ measured per ASTM D792. The low vinyl acetate content reduces polarity and retains greater crystalline order than 18–28 wt% VA grades used in adhesives and encapsulants. The low melt flow index indicates high melt viscosity and high melt strength under extensional deformation. These properties position the grade for blown film sealant skins, cast film lamination webs, blow moulded flexible containers, polyethylene modification, wire and cable jacket compounds, and selected injection moulded parts. Processing conditions in each downstream sector are bounded by the thermal stability limit of the vinyl acetate repeat unit. Above 230°C, acetic acid release becomes relevant to part quality and tool corrosion. Conversion lines therefore hold melt temperature below that ceiling unless corrosion-resistant downstream components are installed. Pre-drying at 60°C for 4 h is recommended when storage has exceeded 60% RH to prevent surface moisture defects in film or moulded parts.
In three-layer blown film coextrusion, ELVAX 3120 is used as the sealant skin against an LLDPE or LDPE core. Layer distribution is typically 20/60/20 or 30/40/30 on a 65 mm three-layer die. Die gap is set at 1.8–2.2 mm. Blow-up ratio is maintained between 2.5:1 and 3.0:1. Frost line height is held at 8–10 times the die diameter. Melt temperature at the die is controlled between 190°C and 210°C. The melt flow rate of 1.2 g/10 min gives higher melt viscosity than film grades with melt flow rates above 3 g/10 min. This stabilizes the bubble under high draw speeds. The 7.5 wt% vinyl acetate repeat unit lowers seal initiation relative to LDPE while limiting surface blocking. Heat seal initiation for a 30 µm sealant skin falls between 85°C and 95°C when measured at 0.4 N/mm² and 0.5 s dwell under ASTM F88. Hot tack remains measurable up to 120°C. Seal strength plateaus between 120°C and 150°C. Above 160°C, failure shifts from peel to tear at the seal interface. Seal bar contamination occurs when jaw temperatures exceed 170°C on high-speed vertical form-fill-seal equipment. The exact onset depends on jaw temperature accuracy, sealant thickness, and film temperature gradients. For frozen seafood packaging, the sealant layer must maintain low-temperature flexibility below -25°C. Dart impact is evaluated by ASTM D1709 Method A. Tear resistance is evaluated by ASTM D1922. Food contact status is assessed under 21 CFR 177.1350 and EU Regulation 10/2011 for the finished multilayer article. The specific migration limit is determined by the converted package, not by the raw polymer alone. Published data for this specific grade under all rotary jaw configurations is limited. Processors should validate seal initiation and hot tack on their own packaging line.
On cast film converting lines, ELVAX 3120 is run in a coextruded structure with an LLDPE core and EVA skins. A 90 mm extruder with 30:1 L/D and a barrier screw is used. Melt temperature is set at 215°C to 230°C. The chill roll is held at 15°C to 22°C. Air knife pressure is adjusted to 0.2–0.4 bar. The draw ratio is kept below 25:1 because high melt tension at low melt flow index can trigger edge instability and web tears. Film thickness for lamination-grade cast film is 20–40 µm. The EVA skin is positioned toward the sealing side of a BOPP or polyester lamination. Seal strength is tested after lamination according to ASTM F88. The seal plateau for the EVA skin is typically 105°C to 140°C. Hot tack is lower than that of higher-VA grades. Die lip build-up appears if melt temperature remains above 240°C for more than 30 min. The deposit contains partially deacetylated polymer. Line operators purge with an LDPE having a melt flow rate of 2 g/10 min before shutdown. The run is monitored for gel formation. Gels from degraded EVA appear as clear or yellowish specks in the cast web. The chill roll is cleaned after each campaign to prevent plate-out transfer to subsequent film. This is a practical limitation on multi-product cast film lines.
| Process | Melt temperature | Tooling condition | Control limit |
|---|---|---|---|
| Three-layer blown film | 190–210°C | die gap 1.8–2.2 mm | blow-up ratio 2.5:1–3.0:1 |
| Cast film lamination web | 215–230°C | chill roll 15–22°C | draw ratio below 25:1 |
| Extrusion blow moulding | 200–220°C | mould water 8–12°C | die swell 35–50% |
| Twin-screw compounding | 180–210°C | 40:1 L/D co-rotating screws | specific energy 0.16–0.22 kWh/kg |
| Injection moulding | 190–215°C | mould 20–40°C | injection pressure 800–1,200 bar |
Extrusion blow moulding of flexible containers and squeeze tubes uses ELVAX 3120 on machines with a 65 mm grooved feed extruder and 24:1 L/D. Melt temperature is held at 200°C to 220°C. The low melt flow index of 1.2 g/10 min increases parison hang strength. Die swell is observed in the range of 35% to 50% depending on die land length and shear rate. Parison programming compensates for swell differences at the pinch-off. Mould cooling water is set at 8°C to 12°C. Cycle time is longer than for LDPE with a melt flow index of 2 g/10 min because screw speed is reduced to avoid melt overheating. Wall thickness uniformity is maintained within ±0.1 mm for small containers. Low-temperature flexibility is retained to -40°C under ASTM D3029 dart impact. The material is not recommended for continuous melt temperatures above 230°C. Overheating at a blocked nozzle can release acetic acid. Chrome-plated mould surfaces are etched by acetic acid condensation if the mould is not vented. The grade should not remain in a hot barrel during line stoppages longer than 10 min. Purging with a lower-viscosity polypropylene or LDPE is required before shutdown. Published data for drop-test performance of finished blow moulded containers made from this specific grade is limited.
In twin-screw compounding, ELVAX 3120 is used as a carrier resin for polyolefin additive masterbatches and as a modifier in LDPE/LLDPE compounds for low-temperature flexibility. A 40:1 L/D co-rotating twin-screw extruder is operated at barrel temperatures of 180°C to 210°C. Specific mechanical energy input is kept between 0.16 kWh/kg and 0.22 kWh/kg. The low vinyl acetate content provides compatibility with LLDPE and HDPE. The high melt viscosity raises melt pressure before the die plate. Strand pelletizing uses a water bath at 35°C to 45°C. Strand stiffness is higher than for LDPE carriers. Cutter speed is reduced by approximately 15% relative to an LDPE carrier at equivalent throughput. In LDPE/LLDPE compounds, addition levels of 5–20 wt% improve low-temperature brittleness resistance. Environmental stress crack resistance is measured per ASTM D1693, Condition B. The modifier effect is lost if the compounding zone exceeds 230°C. Amine-based stabilizers are screened for antagonistic interactions. Filler acceptance is lower than with 18–28 wt% VA grades. This limits high-loading flame retardant masterbatch formulations. Published data for this specific carrier resin in filled systems is limited.
For wire and cable jacket compounds, ELVAX 3120 is incorporated at 10 wt% to 30 wt% in an LDPE/LLDPE matrix. The target is improved environmental stress crack resistance without the high filler loading of halogen-free flame retardant systems. ESCR is tested under ASTM D1693, Condition B, 10% Igepal. Tensile strength and elongation at break are measured according to IEC 60811-501. The compound is extruded on a 90 mm single-screw extruder with 25:1 L/D and a tubing die. Melt temperature is limited to 200°C to 220°C. Head pressure rises when EVA content exceeds 30 wt%. The jacket surface becomes sensitive to die land length below 10 times the annular gap. Melt fracture appears at shear rates above 500 s⁻¹. The grade does not provide inherent flame retardancy. Halogen-free compounds require aluminum trihydrate or magnesium hydroxide. The 7.5 wt% vinyl acetate content reduces filler acceptance compared to 18–28 wt% VA grades used in semiconductor shields. The material is therefore positioned as a modifier, not as a base resin for highly filled insulation. Published data for this specific grade in high-filler cable compounds is limited.
In injection moulding, ELVAX 3120 is limited to thick-walled flexible parts. Wall thickness is kept above 1.5 mm because the melt flow index of 1.2 g/10 min restricts flow length. Injection pressure is set between 800 bar and 1,200 bar on a standard reciprocating screw machine. Barrel zone temperatures are 190°C, 200°C, 210°C, and nozzle 215°C. Mould temperature is held at 20°C to 40°C. Holding pressure is set at 50% to 70% of peak injection pressure. Gate shear rates should not exceed 100,000 s⁻¹. Mould shrinkage is measured per ASTM D955 and ranges from 1.5% to 2.0% depending on wall thickness. The moulded components resist environmental stress cracking when exposed to oily or detergent environments. The low vinyl acetate content limits softness. Parts requiring repeated flexural fatigue should be validated because published data for this specific grade is limited. The injection unit is purged with polypropylene before shutdown. Barrel residence time at melt temperature is kept below 15 min to limit deacetylation.
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ELVAX 3120 is an ethylene vinyl acetate copolymer pellet characterized by a vinyl acetate comonomer content of 7.5 wt% and a melt index of 1.2 g/10 min measured at 190 °C under 2.16 kg load according to ASTM D1238. The density is 0.930 g/cm³ when determined by ISO 1183-1. These values place the product in the low-vinyl-acetate, low-melt-index segment of the EVA family, where ethylene crystallinity is retained but comonomer disruption of the lamellar structure improves low-temperature toughness and environmental stress crack resistance relative to LDPE of equivalent melt index. The grade is supplied in pellet form for extrusion, coextrusion, injection molding, and compound modification, and its polarity from the vinyl acetate unit provides a lower heat-seal initiation temperature than standard low-density polyethylene in flexible packaging structures.
Relative to an LDPE of equivalent melt index, ELVAX 3120 shows reduced crystallinity and increased surface energy. The 7.5 wt% vinyl acetate content lowers the seal initiation temperature by a measurable interval, typically 5–10 °C depending on jaw geometry, dwell time, and web thickness, and improves interlayer adhesion to polar substrates such as ethylene vinyl alcohol copolymers and polyamide. In practice, adhesion values should be generated on the production line rather than extrapolated from laboratory data; a 2 kg/15 mm peel test may be used to quantify interlayer adhesion according to ASTM F904. The low comonomer level does not produce the room-temperature tack or solubility in tackifier systems that characterize high-VA EVA adhesive grades, so the resin remains suitable for thin-gauge film and injection-molded parts where blocking resistance and dimensional stability are required.
Pre-extrusion drying and storage conditions are usually governed by the hygroscopicity of dry blend additives rather than the resin itself. Virgin pellets can be processed without predrying if silo temperature is held above the dew point, but when regrind or filler masterbatches are added, drying at 70–80 °C for 2–4 h is recommended. Avoid combining ELVAX 3120 with free amine-based additives or strongly alkaline color concentrates because the ester groups can undergo hydrolysis at elevated temperatures, releasing acetic acid and causing corrosion of downstream equipment such as air rings, vacuum calibrators, and chilled rolls. Processing above 220 °C should be minimized because thermal decomposition of the vinyl acetate segments can generate additional acetic acid and cause bubble defects in thick sections.
Incoming resin qualification should be based on melt flow and density against the supplier certificate of analysis. Melt index is determined by ASTM D1238 Procedure A at 190 °C/2.16 kg; the nominal value is 1.2 g/10 min with a typical lot-to-lot relative variation of ±10% for commercial low-MI EVA resins. Density is measured at 23 °C by ASTM D1505 or ISO 1183-1; the target is 0.930 g/cm³. Vinyl acetate content is verified by FTIR against a calibration set or by saponification titration, with a typical specification tolerance of ±0.5 wt% around the target. These three values are sufficient to detect grade mix-ups on silo transfer, but they do not replace full rheological characterization for high-shear processing.
| Property | Value | Test method / condition |
|---|---|---|
| Vinyl acetate content | 7.5 wt% | FTIR or saponification titration |
| Melt index | 1.2 g/10 min | ASTM D1238 / ISO 1133-1 at 190 °C / 2.16 kg |
| Density | 0.930 g/cm³ | ISO 1183-1 / ASTM D1505 at 23 °C |
On a production-scale blown-film line equipped with a 45 mm single-screw extruder having a 24:1 L/D and a barrier screw, the resin is commonly run with barrel temperatures from 150 °C at the feed throat to 210 °C at the die. Bubble stability is supported by the low melt index because higher molecular weight increases melt strength; blow-up ratios between 2.0:1 and 3.0:1 are common. When line speed exceeds 120 m/min, neck-in and gauge variation become more sensitive to die-lip design and air-ring control than to the resin itself, and published data for this specific configuration is limited.
In injection molding, the low melt index of ELVAX 3120 demands properly sized runners and gates. Melt temperatures between 180 °C and 210 °C and mold temperatures between 20 °C and 40 °C are typical for closures and flexible consumer articles. Available injection pressure should be at least 80 MPa; thin-wall sections below 0.8 mm may exceed flow-length limits unless high-speed injection and adequate venting are used. Mold shrinkage is higher than in rigid polypropylene and lower than in low-density polyethylene, but exact values should be measured on the production tool because packing pressure and gate freeze time dominate final dimensions. Mold shrinkage should be measured according to ASTM D955 on a plaque or cavity of known thickness before committing to final tool steel.
High-VA EVA copolymers used in hot-melt adhesives and sealants typically contain 18–33 wt% vinyl acetate and melt indices from 6 g/10 min to 43 g/10 min, which produce lower softening points, higher room-temperature tack, and broader compatibility with hydrocarbon tackifiers. ELVAX 3120, at 7.5 wt% vinyl acetate and 1.2 g/10 min melt index, is intentionally outside that design space. Its semi-crystalline structure resists blocking in film and pellet storage, but it cannot deliver the same open time or surface wetting on difficult substrates in hot-melt application. Conversely, high-VA grades cannot match the melt strength and dimensional stability of 3120 in extrusion and injection molding operations. The selection boundary is therefore not simply VA level; it is the required balance among tack, solubility, melt strength, and solid-state creep resistance.
| Attribute | ELVAX 3120 | High-VA EVA adhesive grades |
|---|---|---|
| Vinyl acetate content | 7.5 wt% | 18–33 wt% |
| Melt index | 1.2 g/10 min | 6–43 g/10 min |
| Ambient surface character | Semi-crystalline, low tack | Softened, tack-prone |
| Typical conversion method | Extrusion, blown film, injection molding | Hot-melt adhesive mixing, wax blending, coating |
| Processing ceiling | 220 °C to limit acetic acid evolution | 180–200 °C in hot-melt mixers to avoid thermal degradation |
For food-contact structures, the resin must be verified under 21 CFR 177.1350 for ethylene-vinyl acetate copolymers and, where applicable, 21 CFR 177.1520 for olefin polymers. In the European Union, compliance is assessed under Regulation (EC) No 1935/2004 and Commission Regulation (EU) No 10/2011 for plastic materials in contact with food. Migration testing is performed according to EN 1186 methods, with specific migration of vinyl acetate assessed by an appropriate chromatographic method. For industrial uses not involving food contact, a REACH compliance declaration should be obtained from the supplier under EC 1907/2006. RoHS Directive 2011/65/EU applies to electrical and electronic equipment; the resin typically contains no intentionally added lead, mercury, cadmium, hexavalent chromium, PBB, or PBDE, but the final compound must be assessed because fillers and pigments can introduce restricted substances.
Flame-retardant cable compounds based on ELVAX 3120 can be produced by twin-screw compounding with magnesium hydroxide or aluminum trihydrate. On a 40:1 L/D co-rotating twin-screw extruder, barrel temperatures are commonly held between 130 °C and 170 °C to avoid premature release of the filler’s bound water, and vacuum venting must be maintained above 100 °C to prevent condensation in the vent port. The resulting compounds show limited melt index shift when feeder accuracy is kept within ±2% of set rate. Such compounds are intended for low-smoke, low-corrosivity jacketing where a halogen-free formulation is required; the exact oxygen index and smoke density values must be verified on the specific formulation according to ISO 4589-2 and ASTM E662.
