| HS Code | 987594 |
| Vinyl Acetate Content | 12% |
| Melt Flow Rate | 8 g/10 min (190°C, 2.16 kg) |
| Density | 0.934 g/cm³ |
| Melting Point | 91°C |
| Softening Point Ring And Ball | 70°C |
| Tensile Strength At Break | 10.3 MPa |
| Elongation At Break | 650% |
| Hardness Shore D | 40 |
| Brittleness Temperature | -75°C |
| Flexural Modulus | 35.5 MPa |
| Glass Transition Temperature | -40°C |
| Vicat Softening Point | 53°C |
As an accredited ELVAX 3174 Ethylene Vinyl Acetate Copolymer factory, we enforce strict quality protocols—every batch undergoes rigorous testing to ensure consistent efficacy and safety standards.
| Packing | ELVAX 3174 Ethylene Vinyl Acetate Copolymer is supplied as pellets in 25 kg polyethylene bags, packaged on shrink-wrapped pallets. |
| Container Loading (20′ FCL) | 20′ FCL loading of ELVAX 3174: palletized polymer bags, evenly distributed, secured, dry and ventilated container to prevent damage. |
| Shipping | ELVAX 3174 is shipped as solid pellets in multiwall paper bags or bulk containers, protected from moisture and heat. Store in a dry, ventilated area below 30°C. Avoid prolonged exposure to sunlight. Handle with care to prevent dust accumulation. No special transport classification required under standard conditions. |
| Storage | Store ELVAX 3174 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 contact with strong oxidizers. Maintain moderate temperatures, ideally below 30°C, and protect from mechanical damage. Proper storage ensures stability and processing performance. |
| Shelf Life | Shelf life is typically two years from shipment date when stored in original, unopened containers under cool, dry conditions. |
In hot-melt adhesive compounding, ELVAX 3174 is introduced as a high-molecular-weight ethylene-vinyl acetate copolymer with a vinyl acetate content of 18 wt% and a nominal melt index of 8.0 g/10 min at 190 °C under 2.16 kg load per ISO 1133-1:2022. The neat copolymer has a density of 0.94 g/cm³ per ASTM D792 and a Vicat softening temperature near 75 °C per ASTM D1525. In packaging lines, the grade is dry-blended with hydrogenated rosin ester tackifier and a paraffin/naphthenic wax in ratios of 30–35 phr EVA, 30–40 phr tackifier, and 25–35 phr wax; the resulting Brookfield viscosity at 177 °C is targeted at 1,200–2,500 mPa·s per ASTM D3236. Viscosity stability during slot-die application is monitored with a Thermosel rotational viscometer, and set-time on corrugated board is measured by the time to fiber-tear bond under ASTM D1876 T-peel at 23 °C and 50% RH. The 18 wt% vinyl acetate content increases polar interaction with clay-coated and recycled board surfaces, while the 8.0 g/10 min melt index provides lower stringing than 400-MI grades at the same nozzle temperature of 165–175 °C. Open time is governed by the wax crystallisation onset measured by differential scanning calorimetry per ASTM D3418; a wax crystallisation onset of 60–70 °C is typical when a fully refined paraffin wax with melting point 58–62 °C is used. Adhesive shear adhesion fail temperature is evaluated per ASTM D4498; typical packaging formulations with this resin show cohesive failure above 60 °C when storage is below 40 °C. Thermal exposure above 200 °C for more than 8 h accelerates acetic acid evolution and gel formation, so pre-melt reservoirs are blanketed with nitrogen and held at 165 °C when line downtime exceeds 30 min. Pre-drying is not required if moisture content is below 0.05 wt%; at relative humidity above 60%, vacuum drying at 60 °C for 4 h is applied before compounding. Where indirect food-contact status is specified, the base resin is referenced under 21 CFR 177.1350 for ethylene-vinyl acetate copolymers; finished adhesive migration must satisfy the overall migration limit of 10 mg/dm² under EU Regulation 10/2011. Published formulation data for this exact grade in finished hot-melt adhesives is limited; the quoted ratios and viscosity window are process targets for EVA/tackifier/wax systems with 18 wt% VA and melt index near 8.0 g/10 min.
Modification of paraffin board coatings with ELVAX 3174 at 10–20 wt% changes the wax crystal network from large brittle plates to smaller interlocked domains. The copolymer is melt-blended into paraffin wax with a drop melting point of 56–64 °C; needle penetration measured per ASTM D1321 at 25 °C typically drops from 15–20 dmm for unmodified paraffin to 8–12 dmm at 15 wt% addition. Kinematic viscosity at 100 °C, measured per ASTM D445, increases from 4–6 mm²/s to 12–18 mm²/s, which reduces strike-through during curtain coating onto 200–300 g/m² linerboard. Low-temperature flexibility is assessed by a 15-mm mandrel bend at 5 °C per ASTM D522; EVA-modified wax shows edge cracking only below 0 °C, whereas unmodified paraffin fails at 8–10 °C. Mixing is performed in a jacketed high-shear kettle at 110–130 °C under nitrogen for 45–60 min; batch-to-batch variation in EVA dispersion is held below ±2 °C cloud point. Addition above 20 wt% may cause non-uniform gloss and uneven coating weight due to phase separation, particularly with straight-chain paraffin grades having oil content above 0.5 wt%. Published data for this specific resin in wax-based anti-slip coatings remains limited, but the compatibility behaviour follows the standard EVA-wax blend model for 18 wt% VA copolymers.
For carbon black and pigment masterbatch production, ELVAX 3174 functions as a polar carrier because the 18 wt% vinyl acetate reduces crystallinity and improves wetting of untreated carbon black at loadings of 40–50 wt%. Compounding is carried out on a co-rotating twin-screw extruder with an L/D ratio of 44:1 and a screw speed of 300–600 min⁻¹; melt temperature at the die is maintained at 180–220 °C and checked with an infrared probe calibrated against melt flow index per ISO 1133-1:2022. Filter pressure value is evaluated on a 25-mm single-screw extruder with a screen pack of 200/400/200 mesh; pressure rise limits of 0.5 bar/min are used to detect undispersed agglomerates. In polyethylene modification, blending 5–15 wt% ELVAX 3174 into LLDPE raises dart impact strength per ASTM D1709A from 120–150 g to 180–250 g, while environmental stress-crack resistance F50 per ASTM D1693 in 10% Igepal at 50 °C exceeds 1,000 h for the modified material. The blend retains a melt flow ratio suitable for blown film extrusion on a 30:1 L/D extruder; die gap is set at 1.8–2.2 mm to control melt fracture. Published data for this exact EVA grade in high-filler masterbatches is limited, but the carrier-resin mechanism is established for EVA copolymers with 18 wt% VA.
Closed-cell midsole compounds incorporating ELVAX 3174 are prepared in a tangential Banbury internal mixer at 100–120 °C with dicumyl peroxide at 0.8–1.2 phr and azodicarbonamide at 2.5–5.0 phr. Zinc oxide at 3–5 phr and stearic acid at 1–2 phr are added as kicker and dispersing aids; the dump temperature is kept below 120 °C to prevent premature decomposition of the blowing agent. The higher molecular weight of this 8.0 g/10 min grade compared with 150-MI EVA improves melt strength during foam expansion, reducing cell coalescence at the expansion stage. Press molding is conducted at 170 °C under 8–12 MPa for 8–10 min; the demolded slab is cooled under pressure to stabilize cell size. Foam density is measured per ASTM D792 after conditioning at 23 °C for 24 h; typical midsoles fall in the range of 0.10–0.20 g/cm³. Hardness is measured with an Asker C durometer on a 10-mm thick skinless specimen after 15 s; values of 45–55 Asker C are common for this compound class. Residual azodicarbonamide above 0.3 wt%, measured by thermogravimetric analysis at 200 °C, causes surface pitting and must be reduced through adequate mold venting of 0.5–1.0 mm channels. Published data for this exact grade in compression-molded midsole foam is limited; the processing window is derived from EVA foam compounds with similar VA content and melt index.
Loaded with 60–65 wt% aluminium trihydroxide, ELVAX 3174 compounds are produced on a co-rotating twin-screw extruder with 44:1 L/D; filler is side-fed after polymer melting at 160–180 °C to prevent the mass temperature from exceeding 200 °C, at which point ATH begins releasing water. Compound melt flow index is measured per ISO 1133-1:2022 at 190 °C under 2.16 kg; values of 2–5 g/10 min are retained for pressure extrusion through a 90-mm single-screw crosshead line. Tensile strength and elongation at break are tested per IEC 60811-501 / ISO 527-2; the compound typically reaches 10–14 MPa and 150–250%, respectively, before ageing. Oxygen index measured per ISO 4589-2 on 3-mm plaques exceeds 30–35% O₂ at 60–65 wt% ATH. Smoke density per IEC 61034-2 on 1-mm cable specimens is below 2.5 light absorbance. The compound requires zinc stearate at 1–2 phr as an acid scavenger; amine-based flame-retardant synergists are avoided because they promote premature acid-catalysed chain scission. Published data for this specific EVA grade in LSZH jackets is limited, but the performance envelope aligns with EVA copolymers having 18 wt% VA and melt index below 10 g/10 min.
| Standard / method | Property | Typical compliance target |
|---|---|---|
| IEC 60754-1 | Halogen acid gas content | <0.5% HCl equivalent |
| IEC 60754-2 | pH and conductivity of combustion gases | pH >4.3, conductivity <10 µS/mm |
| IEC 61034-2 | Smoke density on cable bundle | Light transmittance >60% / absorbance <2.5 |
| ISO 4589-2 | Limiting oxygen index | >30% O₂ |
At 3–7 wt% addition, ELVAX 3174 modifies 60/70 penetration-grade bitumen for roofing membranes and asphalt concrete. High-shear mixing at 180–190 °C for 90–120 min disperses the copolymer phase; softening point per ASTM D36 increases from 45–52 °C to 65–75 °C, while penetration at 25 °C per ASTM D5 decreases from 60–70 dmm to 30–45 dmm. Brookfield viscosity at 135 °C per ASTM D4402 remains within 1.0–2.5 Pa·s, allowing pumping through heated lines to the membrane line. Low-temperature flexibility is checked on a 10-mm mandrel at −10 °C per ASTM D5147; modified binders show surface cracking only below −15 °C in laboratory formulations. Storage stability is evaluated by the difference in softening point between top and bottom after 72 h at 163 °C; phase separation above 2 °C indicates insufficient mixing or unsuitable asphalt chemistry. The addition level is limited to 7 wt% because higher concentrations raise mixing torque beyond 200 N·m and reduce workability. Published data for this specific resin in polymer-modified asphalt remains limited, but the performance shift follows general EVA-bitumen modification practice.
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ELVAX 3174 is an ethylene vinyl acetate copolymer supplied by DuPont with a nominal vinyl acetate content of 18% by weight and a melt mass-flow rate of 8.0 g/10 min measured at 190 °C under 2.16 kg load in accordance with ISO 1133-1:2022 and ASTM D1238. The polymer has a density of 0.940 g/cm³ at 23 °C per ISO 1183-1:2019, a Vicat softening point of 60 °C per ISO 306 method A50, and a DSC melting peak near 84 °C per ISO 3146. These values are manufacturer-published typical data and are not specification limits. The 18% vinyl acetate concentration places the grade between low-VA film grades and high-VA adhesive grades: crystallinity is reduced enough to lower heat-seal initiation and broaden adhesion to polar substrates, while the 8.0 g/10 min flow rate retains sufficient melt strength for cast film, extrusion coating, and profile coextrusion.
In melt processing, ELVAX 3174 is typically run at melt temperatures from 120 °C to 160 °C for compounding and adhesive blending. Thermal degradation accelerates above 200 °C and releases acetic acid; therefore barrel zones should be profiled to avoid stagnation and excessive residence time. On a 40:1 L/D co-rotating twin-screw extruder with moderate kneading blocks and a vacuum vent, the resin is compounded with hydrogenated hydrocarbon tackifiers, paraffin waxes, and hindered phenolic antioxidants. Vent plugging can occur when low-molecular-weight waxes with congealing points above the vent temperature are added upstream; placing wax injection downstream of the vent or selecting a wax with a congealing point below 80 °C reduces this failure mode. Pellets stored at relative humidity above 60% should be predried at 60–70 °C for 4 h before extrusion to prevent bubble formation in coating or film.
Because the melt flow rate of 8.0 g/10 min corresponds to a relatively narrow-molecular-weight distribution for an EVA product, shear thinning is more gradual than in high-flow adhesive grades. Incoming inspection should record the melt mass-flow rate by ISO 1133-1:2022 and the vinyl acetate content by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy calibrated with ASTM D5594. A shift of 0.5 g/10 min in melt flow rate or 0.5 percentage points in VA content is sufficient to alter adhesive open time and heat-seal initiation in high-speed packaging lines. Production-scale records show that such shifts are more often caused by blending with off-spec regrind or by cross-contamination from higher-VA grades in shared silos than by resin manufacturing variability.
Vinyl acetate content controls the density and crystalline fraction of the ethylene chain. A 12% VA copolymer with comparable melt index typically has a density near 0.930 g/cm³, a DSC melting peak near 95 °C, and a higher tensile yield point; a 28% VA copolymer has a density near 0.950 g/cm³, a melting peak below 75 °C, and noticeable room-temperature tack. ELVAX 3174 at 18% VA has a density of 0.940 g/cm³ and a melting peak near 84 °C. This intermediate crystalline content produces measurable differences in adhesion. T-peel adhesion to aluminum foil and oriented polyester film is higher for 18% VA than for 12% VA products because the polar acetate group concentration increases surface energy; conversely, the 18% VA grade has lower room-temperature tack and higher cohesive strength than 28% VA adhesives, as measured by ASTM D1876 and ISO 527-2 tensile tests. The modulus falls between those extremes, typically in the range of 30–60 MPa for 18% VA at 23 °C, which reduces interfacial stress concentration while retaining enough mechanical stiffness for adhesive films and tie layers.
The difference from a 15% VA grade with the same nominal melt index is smaller but industrially significant: the additional 3 percentage points of vinyl acetate lower the DSC melting peak by roughly 5–8 °C and improve adhesion to polyester and aluminum in heat-seal and hot-melt tests. This shift allows a 5–10 °C reduction in heat-seal bar setpoint for multi-layer films when seal strength is measured by ASTM F88. Conversely, compared with a 9% VA grade, ELVAX 3174 has lower optical clarity in blown film but provides better adhesion to unprimed aluminum and higher shock absorption in sealant layers.
Hot-melt adhesive formulations based on ELVAX 3174 commonly contain 30–40% by weight resin, 40–50% by weight tackifier, and 10–20% by weight wax. The tackifier selection is governed by polarity: hydrogenated hydrocarbon resins with softening points between 90 °C and 120 °C are preferred for aluminum adhesion, while rosin ester tackifiers can be used for polyester and polyolefin substrates. At 180 °C, Brookfield viscosity measured by ASTM D3236 generally falls between 500 and 2000 mPa·s, depending on tackifier molecular weight. Viscosity stability over 24 h at 180 °C is evaluated by ASTM D4499; drift above 10% indicates antioxidant depletion or acetic acid evolution. In production, hot-melt tanks should be blanketed with nitrogen if held above 160 °C for more than 8 h, and pump seals must be compatible with low levels of acetic acid.
For spiral-spray and bead application systems, hydraulic pressure and nozzle temperature must be adjusted because the resin's 8.0 g/10 min melt flow rate gives lower melt viscosity than structural EVA grades with melt indices below 3.0 g/10 min. This property can reduce stringing and tailing in high-speed packaging lines, but it also lowers the upper service temperature of the adhesive bond. Bond performance should be measured by ASTM D4498 for heat-fail temperature and by ASTM D1876 for peel strength rather than by melt flow rate alone.
Extrusion coating with ELVAX 3174 requires a melt temperature between 220 °C and 280 °C at the die, although the resin begins to degrade rapidly above 230 °C if residence time exceeds 10 min. The melt flow rate of 8.0 g/10 min places the grade in the low-viscosity portion of the EVA product range, so melt curtain stability must be controlled by die gap, air gap, and line speed rather than by melt temperature alone. In cast film and extrusion coating, a die gap of 0.5–1.0 mm and an air gap of 15–25 cm are typical starting points; neck-in increases when the melt temperature exceeds 260 °C or when line speed drops below 50 m/min. Chill-roll temperatures between 15 °C and 25 °C are used to develop adequate clarity; higher chill-roll temperatures reduce frost line stress but increase blocking. Adhesion to polyester and aluminum foil should be verified by ASTM D1876 after lamination because corona treatment level, coat weight, and melt temperature dominate peel values.
In polymer modification, adding 10–20% by weight ELVAX 3174 to polyethylene improves environmental stress crack resistance per ASTM D1693 and impact toughness per ISO 179-1, with the blend melt flow rate checked by ISO 1133-1:2022 before final die selection. Compounding should be performed on a 40:1 L/D twin-screw extruder at 180–200 °C for low-density polyethylene matrices, or 200–220 °C for high-density polyethylene matrices, but not above 230 °C. Because the vinyl acetate groups can interact with ionomers and ethylene-acrylic acid copolymers, die-lip build-up should be monitored when switching between these resins. Published data for this specific configuration is limited, so blend morphology should be confirmed by melt filtration pressure rise or by scanning electron microscopy before scale-up.
Substitution of ELVAX 3174 with a lower melt-index EVA of the same 18% VA content, such as a grade with 2.5 g/10 min MFR, increases tensile strength and environmental stress crack resistance because the higher molecular weight raises chain entanglement density. The trade-off is a narrower processing window in slot-die coating: lower-MFR resins require higher melt temperatures and generate more backpressure in extruders with 30:1 L/D or shorter. Conversely, replacing ELVAX 3174 with a high-flow grade of 150 g/10 min lowers adhesive viscosity and improves penetration into porous substrates but reduces cohesive strength and raises the risk of bleed-through. These differences are quantified by ISO 527-2 tensile properties and by T-peel adhesion per ASTM D1876. Published data for this specific configuration is limited, so formulation-specific evaluation is required before substitution.
On polyethylene substrates, adhesion of ELVAX 3174-based hot-melt is controlled by substrate surface energy; corona treatment to 38–42 dyn/cm measured by ASTM D2578 is required for consistent wet-out. On aluminum, the rate of bond strength development after application depends on quench temperature and crystallinity; cooling at 10–15 °C/min produces a fine spherulitic structure that improves peel adhesion compared with slow cooling. These effects are formulation-dependent and should be confirmed with peel specimens prepared under the actual line cooling rate.
For food-contact uses, regulatory status must be confirmed on the finished article rather than on the raw polymer. The following matrix summarizes the principal frameworks that may apply to ELVAX 3174-containing materials.
| Framework | Scope | Key limit or test method |
|---|---|---|
| FDA 21 CFR 177.1350 | Ethylene-vinyl acetate copolymers in food-contact articles | Finished-article extractives and vinyl acetate monomer limits per the regulation |
| Regulation (EU) No 10/2011 | Plastic food-contact materials in the European Union | Specific migration limit for vinyl acetate monomer: 2 mg/kg food simulant |
| REACH SVHC | Substances of very high concern in articles | SVHC notification below 0.1% w/w unless otherwise advised in safety data sheet |
| RoHS Directive 2011/65/EU | Electrical and electronic equipment articles | Lead 0.1%, cadmium 0.01%, mercury 0.1%, hexavalent chromium 0.1%, PBB 0.1%, PBDE 0.1% by weight in homogeneous materials |
Operational boundaries include the upper stability limit near 230 °C; prolonged hold-up in hot runners or melt filters can produce acetic acid, which corrodes unplated steel surfaces. Chrome-plated or stainless-steel flow paths are recommended for continuous adhesive and coating lines. The Vicat softening point of 60 °C limits continuous load-bearing use in hot environments; applications above 50 °C should use a higher-VA or crosslinked grade only after dynamic mechanical analysis. The resin is not recommended for direct contact with strong oxidizing agents or with solvent systems containing ketones and chlorinated hydrocarbons at elevated temperature, because swell and extractable levels can exceed finished-article specifications. Published data for this specific configuration is limited for some end uses, so migration, adhesion, and thermal stability testing on the final compound remains mandatory.
