| HS Code | 429972 |
| Vinyl Acetate Content | 18% |
| Density | 0.94 g/cm³ |
| Melt Flow Rate | 0.70 g/10 min (190°C, 2.16 kg) |
| Melting Point | 85°C |
| Vicat Softening Point | 65°C |
| Tensile Strength At Break | 19.6 MPa |
| Elongation At Break | 800% |
| Flexural Modulus | 55 MPa |
| Hardness Shore D | 38 |
| Brittleness Temperature | -76°C |
| Crystallization Temperature | 61°C |
| Tensile Modulus | 40 MPa |
As an accredited ELVAX 3165Z Ethylene Vinyl Acetate Copolymer factory, we enforce strict quality protocols—every batch undergoes rigorous testing to ensure consistent efficacy and safety standards.
| Packing | ELVAX 3165Z Ethylene Vinyl Acetate Copolymer is supplied as pellets in 25 kg moisture-resistant bags, ensuring stability and easy handling. |
| Container Loading (20′ FCL) | ELVAX 3165Z copolymer loaded as 20′ FCL, safely packed in 25-kg bags on pallets, ensuring stable, secure transport. |
| Shipping | ELVAX 3165Z Ethylene Vinyl Acetate Copolymer ships as solid pellets in moisture-resistant bags or drums. Non-hazardous under transport regulations; avoid excessive heat and humidity. Store in a cool, dry area. Standard handling applies; no special shipping controls required. |
| Storage | Store ELVAX 3165Z in a cool, dry, well-ventilated area away from direct sunlight, heat, and ignition sources. Keep containers tightly sealed to prevent moisture absorption and contamination. Avoid prolonged exposure to high temperatures; use FIFO to minimize storage time. Protect from static discharge and oxidizers. Follow all local regulations for polymer storage. |
| Shelf Life | Shelf life is typically 2 years from manufacture when stored in a cool, dry area, away from direct sunlight and heat. |
The use of ELVAX 3165Z in polymer-modified bitumen for road paving and roofing membranes is governed less by initial softening point rise than by phase separation under static storage. In a typical blend, 4–6 wt% ELVAX 3165Z is dispersed into base bitumen preheated to 180–190 °C using a high-shear rotor-stator mill or Siefer-type mill at 3,000–5,000 rpm for 2–4 h, after which the blend is aged under low-shear agitation for 30–60 min to release entrapped air. The 0.7 g/10 min melt mass-flow rate corresponds to a high molecular weight fraction that increases the blend’s zero-shear viscosity and improves rutting resistance, but it also lowers compatibility with saturated bitumen fractions; storage stability is therefore evaluated according to EN 13399:2017 by measuring softening point difference between top and bottom samples after 72 h at 180 °C, with a typical acceptance threshold below 2.5 °C. Process conflicts occur when the high-shear phase is terminated too early: undispersed EVA particles larger than 10 μm become visible as surface grain in thin-film binder tests and act as crack-initiation sites in dynamic shear rheometer measurements under ASTM D7405-15. Polymer-modified binders produced with this grade are typically used for gap-graded asphalt mixtures, stone mastic asphalt overlays, bridge deck waterproofing membranes, and polymer-modified bitumen roofing sheets. The relevant compliance framework includes EN 14023:2010 for polymer-modified bitumen specifications, ASTM D5976-22 for Type II polymer-modified asphalt cement, and AASHTO M 320 performance grading verification. Formulators must also verify that the addition of ELVAX 3165Z does not depress low-temperature creep stiffness below the binder grade limit under ASTM D6648-08, because low-MI EVA can increase stiffness at service temperatures below −10 °C.
Compounding ELVAX 3165Z into halogen-free flame-retardant jacketing and insulation for control and power cables involves a filler-loading envelope defined by twin-screw torque and tensile retention. The resin is typically dosed at 30–50 wt% of the compound, while precipitated magnesium dihydrate or fine-ground aluminum trihydrate is added at 120–180 phr, zinc borate at 5–10 phr, and a silane-grafted polyolefin coupling agent at 3–8 phr. The mixing operation is conducted on a corotating twin-screw extruder with a 40:1 L/D ratio and segmented screws containing distributive kneading blocks, operated at screw speeds between 250 and 450 rpm and barrel temperatures of 150–180 °C from feed throat to die; the relatively low melt index of ELVAX 3165Z raises specific energy input compared with higher-MI EVA grades, which limits maximum filler loading before the melt temperature exceeds 190 °C and initiates acetic acid liberation. The resulting pellets are dried to 0.05 wt% residual moisture before extrusion onto copper or aluminum conductors at 140–170 °C on a single-screw extruder with a 24:1 L/D ratio. Terminal products include low-voltage building wire insulation, control cable sheathing, cable fillers, and busbar insulation profiles where halogen acid gas release must meet IEC 60754-2 pH and conductivity limits, smoke density must meet IEC 61034-2, flame spread must meet IEC 60332-1-2, and heavy metals are restricted under RoHS Directive 2011/65/EU Annex II. The material and finished cable must also be assessed under REACH Regulation (EC) No 1907/2006 SVHC candidate list. Because EVA contains acetate comonomer, halogen-free classification refers to the absence of brominated and chlorinated flame retardants; compliance testing therefore includes acid gas evolution per IEC 60754-1 to confirm that the compound remains within the specified conductivity and pH corridor despite the vinyl acetate structure.
| Application segment | ELVAX 3165Z addition ratio | Processing temperature range | Production equipment | Terminal product form |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hot-melt adhesive | 30–40 wt% | 160–180 °C | Sigma-blade or planetary mixer, slot-die coater | Carton sealing, bookbinding adhesive |
| Polymer-modified bitumen | 4–6 wt% | 180–190 °C | Rotor-stator mill, Siefer-type mill | Road asphalt, roofing membrane |
| Halogen-free wire and cable compound | 30–50 wt% | 150–180 °C | Twin-screw extruder 40:1 L/D, single-screw extruder 24:1 L/D | Building wire insulation, control cable sheathing |
| Cast film sealant layer | 20–40 wt% | 205–230 °C | Three-layer or five-layer cast film die | Lidding film, medical device pouch |
| Injection-molded EVA foam | 25–45 wt% | 175–185 °C | Internal mixer, two-roll mill, injection molding press | Footwear insole, midsole, clog component |
| Wax modification | 1–5 wt% | 120–140 °C | Jacketed vessel with turbine agitator | Corrugated coating, investment casting pattern wax |
In cast-film coextrusion for flexible lidding and form-fill-seal packaging, ELVAX 3165Z is not run as the sole sealant resin but is blended at 20–40 wt% with a higher-melt-index EVA or metallocene linear-low-density polyethylene to increase sealant viscosity and shift hot-tack strength after the seal bar opens. The extrusion line configuration is typically a three-layer or five-layer cast film die with a lip gap of 0.5–1.0 mm, chill roll temperatures of 15–25 °C, and die temperatures between 205 and 230 °C; the low 0.7 g/10 min melt index of ELVAX 3165Z limits achievable drawdown at line speeds above 250 m/min unless the blend fraction is reduced or a processing aid is added at 0.5–1.0 wt%. The sealant layer thickness is generally maintained between 10 and 25 μm, and heat-seal performance is verified with a laboratory gradient-bar sealer under ASTM F2029-16, with seal initiation temperature and hot-tack strength recorded over a 100–150 °C jaw temperature range. The addition of ELVAX 3165Z raises the melt viscosity of the sealant layer and reduces melt fracture at low die shear rates, but it also narrows the processing window when the chill roll speed is increased beyond 120 m/min. Terminal finished product types include lidding films for polypropylene and PET trays, medical device pouches, and sealant webs for retort and chilled food packaging. Compliance for food-contact uses must be established under EU Regulation (EC) No 10/2011 overall migration limits of 10 mg/dm² and under FDA 21 CFR 177.1350 for ethylene-vinyl acetate copolymers, while melt-flow consistency for incoming resin lots is controlled by ISO 1133-1:2022.
Expanded EVA foam based on ELVAX 3165Z requires a two-stage mixing route because the high molecular weight fraction resists uniform dispersion of blowing agent and crosslinking agent at low shear. In injection-molded footwear components, the resin is blended at 25–45 wt% with a higher-melt-index EVA, ethylene-octene polyolefin elastomer, or styrene-butadiene block copolymer; azodicarbonamide blowing agent is added at 1.5–2.5 wt%, dicumyl peroxide crosslinking agent at 0.6–1.2 wt%, zinc oxide activator at 1.0–2.0 wt%, and calcium carbonate nucleating filler at 5–15 wt%. The first mixing stage is conducted in an internal mixer at 105–115 °C for 8–12 min, followed by a two-roll mill at 100–110 °C to form a uniform hide, then pelletizing; the pellets are injection-molded into closed molds at 175–185 °C with clamp force sufficient to contain the expansion pressure, and the mold is opened after a cooling cycle to allow free-foam expansion. The low melt index of ELVAX 3165Z increases compound viscosity during mold filling, which can improve cell-size uniformity in thick sections but also shortens the filling window when wall thickness drops below 6 mm. Published data for this exact low-MI grade in injection-molded EVA foam is limited, so plant trials should bracket the resin content between 20 wt% and 35 wt% and record foam density, Shore C hardness, compression set, and shrinkage at 24 h and 72 h. Terminal products include insoles, midsoles, clog components, and padded grip sections in occupational footwear. Compliance obligations include ISO 20345:2021 for safety footwear physical performance, REACH Regulation (EC) No 1907/2006 SVHC screening, and restricted substance limits under REACH Annex XVII where applicable to footwear elastomer formulations.
In paraffin and microcrystalline wax systems, ELVAX 3165Z is used at relatively low loadings to raise melt point, increase flexibility, and improve coating adhesion without generating high-temperature mixing complexity. The resin is added at 1–5 wt% to molten paraffin held in a jacketed vessel at 120–140 °C, dispersed with a low-shear propeller or turbine agitator at 300–600 rpm for 60–120 min until a clear or finely dispersed melt is obtained; above 5 wt%, the blend viscosity at 100 °C climbs steeply, and the resulting wax becomes difficult to pump through heated transfer lines below 90 °C. The compounding step is often combined with the addition of stearic acid or paraffin-compatible tackifiers at 0.5–2.0 wt% to prevent gel aggregation during cooling. Terminal outputs include corrugated board coatings, fruit and produce wax emulsions, investment casting pattern wax blends, and barrier coatings on paperboard. The relevant compliance framework includes FDA 21 CFR 176.170 for coated paper and paperboard in contact with aqueous and fatty foods and FDA 21 CFR 175.105 where the wax-EVA blend is used as a structural adhesive component. Formulators should verify melting point and oil content using ASTM D127-19 and ASTM D721-17, respectively, because the high molecular weight of ELVAX 3165Z can increase oil-binding capacity and alter the paraffin crystalline structure during static cooling.
| Application segment | Regulatory or test standard | Scope or method |
|---|---|---|
| Hot-melt adhesive | FDA 21 CFR 175.105, FDA 21 CFR 177.1350 | Food-contact adhesive and EVA copolymer compliance; end-use migration verification |
| Polymer-modified bitumen | EN 14023:2010, ASTM D5976-22, EN 13399:2017 | PMB specification, Type II PMAC, storage stability |
| Halogen-free wire and cable compound | IEC 60754-1/-2, IEC 61034-2, IEC 60332-1-2, RoHS Directive 2011/65/EU, REACH (EC) No 1907/2006 | Acid gas evolution, smoke density, flame spread, heavy metal restriction, SVHC screening |
| Cast film sealant layer | EU Regulation (EC) No 10/2011, FDA 21 CFR 177.1350, ASTM F2029-16 | Overall migration, EVA food-contact compliance, heat-seal performance |
| Injection-molded EVA foam | ISO 20345:2021, REACH Annex XVII, REACH (EC) No 1907/2006 | Safety footwear physical performance, restricted substances, SVHC screening |
| Wax modification | FDA 21 CFR 176.170, FDA 21 CFR 175.105, ASTM D127-19, ASTM D721-17 | Coated paperboard food contact, adhesive compliance, wax melting point, oil content |
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ELVAX 3165Z is a pelletized ethylene vinyl acetate copolymer supplied under the DuPont ELVAX trade name. The nominal vinyl acetate content is 18 wt%, determined by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy in accordance with ASTM D5594. The melt flow rate is 0.7 g/10 min when measured at 190°C/2.16 kg per ASTM D1238 or ISO 1133-1:2022; density is 0.94 g/cm³ at 23°C per ASTM D792. The “Z” suffix designates a specific stabilization package; the exact antioxidant identity and regulatory status must be confirmed against the supplier technical data sheet. At 18 wt% vinyl acetate, the grade occupies the lower-polarity segment of the EVA family, retaining sufficient ester concentration for polar filler wetting while preserving a polyethylene-like crystalline melting point and modulus.
The low MFR of 0.7 g/10 min corresponds to a high-molecular-weight extrusion grade. The resin is therefore specified where melt strength, bubble stability, profile shape retention or slump resistance governs the operation, rather than where low-viscosity penetration of narrow gaps is required. The material is supplied as pellets and is compatible with standard polyolefin feeding, drying and melt-compounding equipment, provided the temperature limitations described below are observed.
Melt temperature should be maintained below 220°C during continuous extrusion and below 230°C only for short residence times. At and above 230°C, the vinyl acetate segments undergo thermally induced deacetylation, releasing acetic acid and leaving conjugated unsaturation in the polyethylene backbone. The liberated acid accelerates corrosion on steel and aluminium tooling and can shift the pH of any condensed vent-stream water. On a 40:1 L/D co-rotating twin-screw extruder equipped with vacuum devolatilization, barrel settings from feed to die typically begin at 120°C and ramp to 180°C; actual melt temperature should be confirmed by an immersion thermocouple rather than inferred from barrel set points. Screw speed and feed rate should be balanced to keep specific mechanical energy input below the limit that raises melt temperature above 220°C. Residence time in zones above 220°C should be minimized, and continuous operation above that threshold is not recommended. If the resin has been stored at relative humidity above 60%, desiccant drying at 60–70°C for 4–6 h to a moisture content below 0.05 wt% is required before extrusion; surface moisture hydrolyzes the ester groups and increases melt acidity.
On a production-scale 40:1 L/D co-rotating twin-screw extruder with atmospheric and vacuum venting, the low melt flow rate produces a comparatively high melt viscosity and elevated screw torque relative to 8 g/10 min or 19 g/10 min EVA grades. This characteristic is exploited in blown film, sheet and profile extrusion where melt strength controls bubble stability, draw sag and die swell. Rotational rheometry at 190°C shows a strongly shear-thinning response; the zero-shear viscosity is substantially higher than that of faster-flowing EVA grades, while the power-law index in the shear-rate range relevant to die flow permits pumping through conventional polyolefin screw designs without excessive head pressure. Capillary rheometry per ASTM D3835 should be used to generate temperature and shear-rate viscosity curves before die design changes are implemented; published data for this specific Z-stabilized grade is limited, so converter-specific measurements are required. Incoming batch-to-batch MFR variation can be detected by ASTM D1238; converters should establish an internal range around the nominal 0.7 g/10 min value rather than assuming all lots behave identically.
The operational ceiling is governed by vinyl acetate stability rather than polyethylene backbone degradation. Differential scanning calorimetry per ASTM D3418 typically places the melting endotherm near 82–86°C for an 18 wt% VA grade. Deacetylation begins kinetically at lower temperatures but becomes significant above 230°C; the reaction is autocatalytic because released acetic acid accelerates further ester cleavage. In a twin-screw extruder with stagnant zones, local residence-time distributions can allow material to approach this threshold even when the average melt temperature is lower. Vent ports should be maintained under vacuum to strip acetic acid and water; condensed volatiles should be neutralized or routed through corrosion-resistant alloy ductwork. The resin should not be compounded with strongly acidic or basic additives that can hydrolyze the ester groups. Amine-based additives require cautious evaluation because published data for their interaction with the Z-stabilized EVA is limited. Direct contact with copper and unalloyed iron at elevated temperature is discouraged due to metal-ion-catalyzed ester cleavage. For long production campaigns, vent-port inspection and neutralization of condensed acetic acid should be part of the shift checklist.
In injection molding of compounded ELVAX 3165Z-based formulations, barrel temperatures from 140°C to 180°C and screw back pressure below 0.5 MPa are typical starting points for laboratory-scale machines. Production-scale clamp force requirements scale with projected area and are not grade-specific. The low MFR increases filling pressure, so gate size and sprue dimensions should be enlarged relative to high-flow EVA grades. Mold temperatures from 10°C to 30°C shorten cycle time without inducing gross crystallinity gradients, but post-mold dimensional stability should be assessed by conditioning specimens at 23°C and 50% RH for 48 h per ASTM D618 before measuring hardness or tensile properties. For hot-runner systems, internal surface temperatures should not exceed 220°C at any point, and the residence time in the manifold should be minimized to avoid deacetylation in stagnant zones.
Foam extrusion lines use the high melt strength of the resin to stabilize cell walls at the die exit. A tandem extruder with a 32:1 L/D primary screw and a cooling extruder is typical; chemical or physical blowing agent injection occurs in the primary after melting, and the melt is cooled to 95–110°C before the die. The 0.7 g/10 min MFR sustains cell walls at the die exit, reducing blow-hole formation relative to lower-viscosity EVA grades. Density reduction and cell structure should be evaluated by ASTM D1622 and ASTM D3576; published data for ELVAX 3165Z foam density at specific blowing agent levels is limited, so pilot-line trials are required to establish the relationship between blowing agent concentration and final density.
In hot-melt adhesive mixing, the resin is blended with hydrocarbon or rosin ester tackifiers and waxes in a vertical mixer at 150–180°C under nitrogen. The low melt flow rate raises mix viscosity and cohesive strength, reduces stringing, and permits higher filler loading before the formulation becomes too fluid at dispensing temperature. Viscosity of the finished adhesive should be measured with a Brookfield thermosel viscometer per ASTM D3236; end-use peel adhesion on polyethylene or aluminium is evaluated by ASTM D1876 after conditioning at 23°C and 50% RH. The migration kinetics of hydrocarbon tackifiers in the EVA phase can shift peel adhesion over time; peel testing should therefore be repeated after 7 days at 60°C per ASTM D1876 to detect migration-driven adhesion loss. Published data for adhesive formula-specific peel values for ELVAX 3165Z is limited; batch-scale validation against the target substrate is required.
Wax and paraffin blends use ELVAX 3165Z as a viscosity builder and cohesive agent. A heated sigma-blade mixer or a low-shear vertical mixer at 130–170°C is used until a clear homogeneous melt is obtained. The low MFR increases blend viscosity faster than higher-MFR EVA at the same weight fraction; therefore, formulators may reduce the EVA level by 2–5 wt% compared with 19 g/10 min EVA while maintaining the same Brookfield viscosity. Softening and blocking resistance should be confirmed by ring-and-ball softening point per ASTM E28 and blocking tests at 50°C under load. The resin should be added slowly to molten wax under nitrogen to prevent local overheating and acid generation.
The most consequential differences from adjacent ELVAX grades are molecular weight, melt flow rate and vinyl acetate content. ELVAX 3165Z has the same nominal 18 wt% VA as ELVAX 450 but a lower MFR, producing higher melt strength, higher viscosity, higher torque, and better retention of shape during foam expansion and profile calibration. Compared with ELVAX 260 at 28 wt% VA, the lower VA level of 3165Z gives a more polyethylene-like crystalline melting point, higher modulus, lower surface polarity and reduced adhesion to unprimed aluminium. Compared with ELVAX 350 at 25 wt% VA and 19 g/10 min, 3165Z is substantially more viscous and is preferred where melt strength, not wetting speed, governs the process.
| Grade | Nominal VA content | Melt flow rate | Processing consequence |
|---|---|---|---|
| ELVAX 3165Z | 18 wt% | 0.7 g/10 min | High melt strength, elevated torque, shape retention, lower dispensing flow |
| ELVAX 450 | 18 wt% | 8 g/10 min | Lower viscosity, faster injection flow, reduced melt strength |
| ELVAX 260 | 28 wt% | 6 g/10 min | Increased polarity, lower crystalline melt point, improved adhesion to polar substrates |
| ELVAX 350 | 25 wt% | 19 g/10 min | Low-viscosity hot-melt wetting, minimal melt strength |
In polyolefin modification, the resin is dry-blended with LDPE or LLDPE at addition levels from 5 wt% to 30 wt% and compounded on a twin-screw extruder to improve impact toughness, filler compatibility and adhesion to polar layers. The lower MFR of 3165Z preserves melt strength in blown film formulations where higher-MFR EVA would destabilize the bubble. Tensile and flexural properties of the modified polyolefin should be characterized per ASTM D638-14 and ASTM D790-17; impact performance should be measured by ASTM D256 Izod or ASTM D1822 tensile impact, depending on end-use thickness. The actual improvement in impact strength depends on dispersion quality and is not a fixed property of the resin; sieve analysis of the compounded pellets and microscopy of cryofractured specimens should accompany mechanical testing.
Compared with ethylene methyl acrylate and ethylene butyl acrylate copolymers, EVA has a stiffer backbone and a sharper melting transition but a lower continuous-use temperature ceiling because of deacetylation. Ethylene butyl acrylate is often selected when stability at processing temperatures above 230°C is required; propylene-based elastomers may be selected for better thermo-oxidative stability. ELVAX 3165Z is therefore specified where the 18 wt% VA balance among adhesion, modulus and melt strength aligns with a process that does not exceed 220°C. Published comparative data for this specific Z-stabilized formulation against alternate copolymers is limited; selection should be validated by processing trials and end-use thermal aging per ASTM D573 or ASTM D3045 as applicable.
The resin can be used in hot-melt adhesives, sealants, wax blends, polymer modification and extruded profiles. For food-contact applications, compliance must be verified under 21 CFR 177.1350 and, where applicable, 21 CFR 177.1520 against the specific end-use extraction conditions; the presence of the Z stabilization package requires supplier confirmation that all components meet the relevant positive lists. Under REACH and RoHS, the grade should be documented through supplier SDS and batch certificates; no intentional addition of lead, cadmium, mercury, hexavalent chromium, PBB or PBDE is typical, but batch-level verification is required. Because the resin contains 18 wt% vinyl acetate, prolonged contact with strong alkalis, strong acids, or metal ions that catalyze ester hydrolysis should be avoided. Exposure to UV without carbon black or hindered amine stabilizers leads to chain scission and surface chalking; outdoor service formulations require additional stabilization and weatherometer testing per ASTM G154. Processing scrap should be dried and re-extruded only after melt flow rate and color verification per ASTM D1238 and ASTM D6290, because repeated heat history can shift the stabilization package and reduce melt stability.
