| HS Code | 619565 |
| Vinyl Acetate Content Wt | 18 |
| Melt Flow Rate G 10 Min | 8 |
| Density G Cm3 | 0.941 |
| Melting Point C | 84 |
| Freezing Point C | 64 |
| Vicat Softening Point C | 62 |
| Brittleness Temperature C | -76 |
| Tensile Strength At Break Mpa | 14 |
| Elongation At Break | 800 |
| Flexural Modulus Mpa | 27 |
| Hardness Shore D | 34 |
| Refractive Index | 1.497 |
As an accredited ELVAX 450 Ethylene Vinyl Acetate Copolymer factory, we enforce strict quality protocols—every batch undergoes rigorous testing to ensure consistent efficacy and safety standards.
| Packing | ELVAX 450 Ethylene Vinyl Acetate Copolymer supplied as pellets in 25 kg sealed multiwall paper bags, ensuring safe handling and moisture protection. |
| Container Loading (20′ FCL) | 20′ FCL: ELVAX 450 EVA copolymer loaded in bags on pallets, secured for safe transport. |
| Shipping | ELVAX 450 is a non-hazardous ethylene vinyl acetate copolymer supplied as solid pellets. Ship in clean, dry packaging to prevent contamination and moisture uptake. Avoid exposure to excessive heat and direct sunlight during transit. No special dangerous goods declaration is required, but standard handling and ventilation practices apply. |
| Storage | Store ELVAX 450 Ethylene Vinyl Acetate Copolymer in a sealed, original container in a cool, dry, well-ventilated area away from direct sunlight, heat sources, and open flames. Keep separated from strong oxidizers. Avoid prolonged storage above 50°C (122°F) to prevent fusing or blocking. Maintain ambient temperatures and low humidity for optimal stability. |
| Shelf Life | Shelf life is typically two years from shipment when stored in original, unopened containers under cool, dry conditions. |
In high-speed corrugated case and carton sealing lines, ELVAX 450 is charged as the binder backbone at 30–40 wt% of the total adhesive formula. The nominal 18 wt% vinyl acetate comonomer content and 8 g/10 min melt flow rate at 190°C/2.16 kg per ISO 1133-1:2022 place this grade between two competing failure modes. Grades with vinyl acetate below 12 wt% retain excessive polyethylene crystallinity and fail to wet clay-coated recycled board, producing interfacial release rather than fiber tear. Grades with vinyl acetate above 28 wt% yield acceptable adhesion to polar substrates but depress the ring-and-ball softening point and can bleed through 80–120 g/m² kraft liners. The adhesive is compounded in a jacketed sigma-blade mixer at 140–160°C under a nitrogen blanket, with rotor speed held at 30–60 rpm until a particle-free melt is achieved, normally 35–50 min. Continuous compounding on a co-rotating twin-screw extruder with L/D 40:1 uses feed-zone temperature 120°C, mid-barrel temperatures 145–165°C, and die temperature 155–170°C. Residence time above 200°C initiates deacetylation of the vinyl acetate mer, releasing acetic acid that reduces melt viscosity, raises acid number, and attacks brass and copper fittings; wetted surfaces are therefore specified in 316L stainless steel or chrome-plated tool steel.
Formulation balance is set by the end-use substrate and application method. Rosin ester tackifier with a softening point of 95–110°C per ASTM E28 is used at 30–45 wt% to promote wet-out on high-surface-energy board; C5 aliphatic hydrocarbon resin may replace up to half the rosin ester when low color and thermal stability are required for white carton stock. Fischer-Tropsch paraffin wax with a congealing point of 95–105°C per ASTM D938 is added at 15–25 wt% to shorten open time and accelerate set speed; microcrystalline wax at 0–10 wt% adjusts cohesive flexibility without the same degree of viscosity suppression. A hindered phenol/phosphite antioxidant package at 0.3–1.0 phr is compounded into the melt to limit viscosity drift during 8–12 h of heated reservoir residence. Pre-drying of hygroscopic fillers and recycled waxes at 60°C for 4 h is required when ambient relative humidity exceeds 60%, because steam evolution in slot-die coating produces pinholes and adhesion voids.
At the packaging line, the molten adhesive is held at 160–180°C and applied by wheel, nozzle, or slot-die equipment. Brookfield viscosity at 180°C measured by ASTM D3236 is maintained between 600 mPa·s and 1500 mPa·s for clean transfer from wheel to flute tips; below 400 mPa·s, adhesive penetrates the substrate and produces strike-through, while above 2500 mPa·s, fiber-tearing contact is lost on lightweight recycled mediums. Open time is typically 2–10 s and set speed below 5 s on corrugated medium; both are adjusted by wax crystallinity and tackifier molecular weight rather than by changing the EVA grade alone. Bond performance is quantified by ASTM D1876 T-peel adhesion and by fiber-tear percentage on 32 ECT B-flute corrugated board. A conforming bond shows 90–100% fiber tear at 23°C and no brittle interfacial release at 0°C. For indirect food-contact packaging, adhesive formulations must comply with 21 CFR 175.105 for the adhesive assembly and 21 CFR 177.1350 where the EVA polymer component is used. End products include case and carton sealing, tray forming, bookbinding, and film-to-paper lamination for multiwall bags.
The selection of a low-vinyl-acetate grade is governed by solubility parameter proximity and melt rheology, not by elevated polar adhesion. ELVAX 450 dissolves into paraffin wax at 130–140°C under low-shear turbine agitation at 300–500 rpm; full molecular dispersion requires 45–90 min, depending on pellet surface area and the oil content of the base wax. At loadings between 2 wt% and 10 wt%, the EVA phase crystallizes on cooling and creates a fine interpenetrating network that raises scuff resistance, lowers blocking, and reduces oil exudation in wax-coated folding cartons. Above 10 wt%, melt viscosity at 120°C can exceed 1000 mPa·s, producing streaking on gravure and curtain coating lines; below 2 wt%, no continuous network forms and the property change is confined to a slight reduction in paraffin crystal size.
The modified wax is characterized by needle penetration at 25°C per ASTM D1321, congealing point per ASTM D938, and melting enthalpy per ASTM D3418. Because paraffin base stocks vary in oil content and n-paraffin distribution, routine quality control uses a reference base wax rather than an absolute penetration specification; published data for this specific ELVAX 450 grade across all paraffin grades is limited. Cloud point measured by ASTM D2500 is monitored for blends containing branched or naphthenic waxes, where phase separation can appear as surface haze after 48 h at ambient storage. Processing vessels are mild steel or stainless steel; the same acetic acid evolution risk above 200°C applies during overheated melt tanks, so thermostatic control at the tank wall is set below 160°C.
Coating lines apply the blend at 110–140°C by direct gravure, roll, or curtain coating onto bleached kraft and recycled board. End products include heat-sealable carton overprint coatings, corrugated container wet-strength coatings, paper cup side-seam compounds, and industrial waxed papers where improved fold crack resistance is required. In heat-seal applications, the EVA network increases seal initiation temperature and broadens the hot-tack window; seal strength is evaluated with a heat-seal tester per ASTM F88 or equivalent internal methods.
At 3–6 wt% addition to penetration-grade bitumen, ELVAX 450 forms a polymer-rich network that raises the binder softening point and elastic recovery without the sulfur-vulcanization step required for SBS-modified binders. In a high-shear mixer or colloid mill, bitumen is preheated to 170–190°C, polymer is added under shear at 3000–5000 rpm, and the dispersion is maintained for 2–4 h. Lower shear produces polymer particles that disperse but do not deform into a continuous network; the resulting binder shows a drop in elastic recovery per ASTM D6084 and can separate after 24 h of static storage at 180°C. Overheating above 210°C accelerates bitumen oxidation and EVA deacetylation, causing surface skinning and a viscosity increase that cannot be reversed by dilution.
| Binder property | Standard method | Measured response |
|---|---|---|
| Softening point | ASTM D36 | ring-and-ball softening point |
| Needle penetration at 25°C | ASTM D5 | penetration depth in 0.1 mm |
| Elastic recovery at 25°C | ASTM D6084 | percentage recovery after specified elongation |
| Low-temperature flexibility | EN 1109 | crack-free bending temperature |
During waterproofing membrane production, the modified binder is transferred at 180–200°C to a mixing vessel where fillers such as limestone, talc, or recycled rubber are added before calendering or extrusion. The compound is reinforced with spunbond polyester or glass mat and finished as torch-applied, self-adhesive, or mechanically fastened sheets. In paving applications, the EVA-modified binder is blended with aggregate in a pugmill at 160–180°C; compacted mixes are assessed for rutting by wheel-tracking test per EN 12697-22 and for low-temperature crack resistance by thermal stress restrained specimen test per EN 12697-46. Published data for this specific grade in dense-graded mixes is limited to comparable EVA copolymers with similar vinyl acetate content; performance therefore requires job-site mix design validation.
When midsole foam compounds are crosslinked and expanded in a single compression cycle, ELVAX 450 is combined with a higher-vinyl-acetate EVA or polyolefin elastomer to reduce melt fracture during sheet preforming and to control foam hardness. A typical starting formulation contains 60–80 phr ELVAX 450, 20–40 phr of an EVA grade with 25–28 wt% vinyl acetate or an ethylene-octene polyolefin elastomer, 2–4 phr azodicarbonamide blowing agent, 0.5–1.0 phr dicumyl peroxide crosslinker, 0.5–1.5 phr zinc oxide, and 0.5–1.0 phr zinc stearate. Mixing is performed on an open two-roll mill at 110–125°C for 8–12 min, followed by strip cutting and granulation. The compound must be free of unabsorbed peroxide pockets because localized crosslinking produces hard spots in the foamed part.
The blowing agent decomposition range is 205–215°C and is exothermic; mold temperature control within ±5°C is required to avoid a skin-to-core density gradient greater than 0.05 g/cm³. Compression molding uses a two-stage pressure profile: 150 kg/cm² during crosslinking for 10–15 min, followed by controlled decompression to allow expansion. Mold fill ratio is set between 50% and 70% to control expanded density; lower fill ratios produce larger cells and lower compression set, but can allow incomplete knit lines in complex midsole geometry. Foam density for midsoles is controlled between 0.15 g/cm³ and 0.25 g/cm³, with hardness measured by ASTM D2240, split tear strength by ASTM D624, and compression set by ISO 815. The 18 wt% vinyl acetate content of ELVAX 450 contributes to flex fatigue resistance but limits the lowest achievable hardness; softer formulations replace a portion with higher-VA grades and increase blowing agent loading.
Post-expansion annealing at 70–80°C for 4 h stabilizes cell geometry and reduces dimensional shrinkage after demolding. End products include athletic midsoles, slide sandals, sports mats, and protective packaging foams. In injection-molded foam footwear, shrinkage after 24 h is controlled to below 1.5% in length and width; mold release pH must be neutral because residual acidic species from degraded EVA accelerate surface bloom.
High-loading masterbatch lines designed for 70 wt% TiO₂ or carbon black typically replace LDPE with an EVA carrier such as ELVAX 450 at 10–30 wt% of the compound. The low-vinyl-acetate structure and 8 g/10 min melt flow rate permit early wetting of pigment agglomerates in the feed zone of a co-rotating twin-screw extruder with L/D 36:1–48:1. Barrel temperatures are set at 130–170°C, and screw design uses two or three kneading-block zones with melt filtration through a 100–200 µm breaker plate screen pack. Dispersion is evaluated on a Hegman gauge; film-grade masterbatch requires a grind below 10 µm, while injection-grade masterbatch can tolerate aggregates up to 25 µm without visible surface defects. Residual moisture in mineral fillers must be below 0.1 wt% to prevent hydrolysis of the vinyl acetate groups during extrusion; pre-drying at 80–100°C for 2–4 h is applied to hygroscopic pigments. End products include white masterbatch for blown film, carbon black masterbatch for pipe and geotextile, and additive concentrates for injection molding weights and trays.
For polyester-to-paper and aluminum-to-paper laminating lines, a 20–30 wt% solids solution of ELVAX 450 in a ternary solvent blend of toluene, methyl ethyl ketone, and ethyl acetate produces a laminating adhesive with controlled drying characteristics. The low vinyl acetate content reduces moisture uptake in the dried bond line compared with higher-VA adhesive grades, which is relevant for dimensionally stable paperboard laminates. Solution viscosity at 25°C is maintained between 200 mPa·s and 800 mPa·s for gravure or reverse-roll coating; viscosity is adjusted by solids content and by the ketone-to-aromatic ratio rather than by adding low-molecular-weight plasticizers that would later migrate.
Drying tunnels are operated at 70–100°C with air velocity 10–15 m/s to achieve residual solvent below 5 mg/m² in the bond line, measured by gas chromatography with flame ionization detection. Coating weight is controlled at 2–5 g/m² dry; below this range, T-peel adhesion to corona-treated polyester becomes inconsistent, while above this range, solvent entrapment can produce bubbles and reduced heat-seal clarity. Bond performance is evaluated by ASTM D1876 T-peel, and heat-seal strength by ASTM F88. For food packaging laminates, the finished adhesive must meet 21 CFR 175.105 and the EVA polymer component must meet 21 CFR 177.1350; additional migration testing may be required depending on food type and temperature condition. End products include dry-food pouch lamination, label stock, and paperboard window film for bakery boxes.
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ELVAX 450 is an ethylene vinyl acetate copolymer resin whose vinyl acetate comonomer content is controlled to a nominal 18 wt% and whose melt mass-flow rate is controlled to a nominal 8 g/10 min when measured at 190 °C under 2.16 kg in accordance with ISO 1133-1:2022 or ASTM D1238-20. The resin has a typical density of 0.94 g/cm³ at 23 °C per ISO 1183-1:2019. The grade belongs to the 18 wt% vinyl acetate series of the Elvax product line, in which molecular weight is varied independently of comonomer level. This product-line architecture separates polarity and adhesion effects, controlled by vinyl acetate content, from flow-related processing effects, controlled by molecular weight and chain architecture. The 8 g/10 min melt mass-flow rate places the material between high-flow Elvax 440 at a nominal 30 g/10 min and low-flow Elvax 460 at a nominal 2.5 g/10 min. That intermediate flow position allows the grade to be considered for extruded sheet, profile, cast film, compounding, and adhesive applications requiring moderate melt strength without the high pressure drop and shear heating associated with fractional-MFR resins.
Vinyl acetate content in EVA is the primary structural variable controlling polarity, crystallinity, and low-temperature flexibility. Lower-VA grades in the 9–12 wt% range retain higher crystallinity, higher stiffness, and better hydrocarbon compatibility; they are commonly selected for wax modification, sealants requiring higher heat resistance, and compounds in which compatibility with polyethylene is more important than adhesion to polar substrates. Higher-VA grades in the 25–33 wt% range have lower crystallinity, lower softening point, and stronger adhesion to glass, aluminum, and polar films; these are widely used in photovoltaic encapsulant film and high-tack adhesive systems. The 18 wt% comonomer level is an intermediate plateau: polarity is sufficient to improve adhesion and reduce stiffness relative to polyethylene, while crystallinity remains high enough to maintain elevated-temperature dimensional stability and surface dryness. The result is a formulation window in which final adhesion, stiffness, and optical characteristics are governed by additive selection rather than by the base resin alone. Surface wetting tension can be evaluated per ISO 8296:2003, but values vary with corona treatment and additive migration.
At the molecular level, the 18 wt% vinyl acetate level disrupts ethylene crystallite formation and broadens the melting range. Differential scanning calorimetry per ASTM D3418-21 shows a melting profile dependent on cooling rate and nucleation; no single peak temperature is a sufficient acceptance criterion. The glass transition of this grade is broad and typically well below −25 °C, but the exact value depends on comonomer sequence distribution and thermal history. Vinyl acetate content is routinely determined by infrared spectroscopy using ASTM D5594 or an equivalent validated internal procedure. When the grade is compared with unmodified polyolefins, the polar ester groups increase compatibility with fillers, carbon black, and polar modifiers; when compared with higher-VA copolymers, the 18 wt% level reduces moisture sensitivity and surface blocking. Published data for this specific configuration is limited; critical thermal-transition values should be generated on production lots and not copied from generic EVA literature.
In hot-melt adhesive compounding, the melt mass-flow rate of the EVA raw material is one of the primary controls on finished adhesive viscosity. High-flow grades in the 150–500 g/10 min range lower application viscosity but reduce green strength and cohesive strength; low-flow grades below 3 g/10 min raise viscosity and improve toughness but restrict application equipment to heated hose and gear pump systems capable of high pressure. ELVAX 450 at 8 g/10 min is suited to the intermediate formulation space where both application viscosity and cohesive strength are specified. Finished adhesive viscosity is measured by rotational viscometry using ASTM D3236-88(2020) at controlled temperatures such as 150 °C, 160 °C, and 180 °C; acceptance limits are formulation-specific and depend on rosin ester or hydrocarbon tackifier, wax level, paraffin type, and filler. The 18 wt% vinyl acetate content provides compatibility with rosin ester and partially hydrogenated hydrocarbon tackifiers, but high wax loadings can produce phase separation that appears as surface bloom and viscosity drift. The rotoviscometer spindle and chamber must be calibrated with certified viscosity standards at the measurement temperature; otherwise batch-to-batch viscometer comparisons are not technically valid.
Adhesive open time and green strength are influenced by EVA molecular weight and crystallization rate. Compared with higher-flow grades in the same series, ELVAX 450 generally provides longer open time and higher green strength than Elvax 440, but shorter open time and lower cohesive strength than Elvax 460. Comparative values are measured by tensile lap-shear strength per ASTM D3163-01(2014) or by peel adhesion methods. The numerical differences depend on substrate, adhesive thickness, cooling rate, and tackifier package; they cannot be transferred from one production line to another without validation.
In single-screw extrusion of neat ELVAX 450, barrel temperatures are typically set from 140–155 °C in the feed zone to 180–200 °C at the die. The material should not remain above 220–230 °C for extended residence times because thermal deacetylation of the vinyl acetate comonomer can generate acetic acid and conjugated unsaturation, producing discoloration, gel particles, and a sharp acidic odor. A general-purpose screw with an L/D of 24:1 to 30:1 and a compression ratio near 3:1 is used for sheet and profile extrusion. Fine-mesh screen packs, often 40/60/80 mesh, are installed in cast film and sheet lines to trap gels; pressure drop across the screen pack should be recorded continuously with a melt-pressure transducer because progressive gel accumulation is not visible from motor load alone. When shutdown extends beyond 45 min, the barrel should be purged with a thermally stable polyolefin to minimize the formation of degraded residue on screw and barrel surfaces.
Within the 18 wt% vinyl acetate series, grade selection is primarily a molecular-weight and melt-flow decision. Table 1 reports nominal supplier literature values. The difference between ELVAX 450 and ELVAX 460 is approximately 3.2-fold in melt mass-flow rate; the difference between ELVAX 450 and ELVAX 440 is approximately 3.75-fold. These differences are significant in thin-gauge film and in pressure-limited extrusion because melt pressure and motor load do not scale linearly with MFR. A grade change from ELVAX 450 to Elvax 460 can require higher barrel set points or reduced throughput, while a change to Elvax 440 can improve line speed but may reduce bubble stability in blown film. The choice should be based on melt-pressure measurements and product performance testing, not on MFR alone.
| Grade designation | Vinyl acetate content (wt%) | Melt mass-flow rate (g/10 min) | Typical density at 23 °C (g/cm³) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Elvax 410 | 18 | 500 | 0.94 |
| Elvax 420 | 18 | 150 | 0.94 |
| Elvax 440 | 18 | 30 | 0.94 |
| Elvax 450 | 18 | 8 | 0.94 |
| Elvax 460 | 18 | 2.5 | 0.94 |
| Elvax 470 | 18 | 0.7 | 0.94 |
At production scale, the practical difference between ELVAX 450 and lower-flow grades appears as a line-specific pressure drop across the extruder head and die. A melt-pressure transducer placed before the breaker plate should be used to compare candidate grades under identical throughput and temperature conditions. Lot-to-lot MFR variation is reported on the certificate of analysis and should be monitored because a shift of 1 g/10 min can alter pressure-limited throughput in thin-gauge film. No universal correction factor is published; a trial on the target line is required before a permanent grade substitution.
When ELVAX 450 is compounded with filler, carbon black, or polyolefin modifiers in a co-rotating twin-screw extruder, the melt temperature is often 10–20 °C above the set barrel temperature because of viscous dissipation. Therefore the barrel profile should be limited to 170–190 °C in the mixing zones and the screw speed adjusted to keep the melt thermocouple below 220 °C. A twin-screw extruder with an L/D of 40:1 and side feeding at the downstream port is used when mineral fillers above 20 wt% are introduced. Screw elements should be selected for distributive mixing rather than high-intensity kneading when temperature-limited compounding is required; high-shear kneading blocks can accelerate deacetylation and generate gel particles. Specific energy input is optimized by measuring melt temperature and specific throughput, not by maximizing screw speed. Venting, when used, should be located behind a melt seal to avoid pellet carryover. Production lines processing this grade have shown that the most common failure is not feed bridging but thermally degraded residue accumulation at the screw tips and mixer elements; this failure can be detected by a slow rise in melt pressure over a run and by black specks in the extrudate.
In polyolefin modification, ELVAX 450 is added at 5–30 wt% to LLDPE or HDPE to improve impact properties and stress-crack resistance. Mixing quality in pellets should be assessed by scanning electron microscopy or by solvent extraction of residual monomers, not by visual clarity alone. Notched Izod impact values must be measured per ISO 180:2019 or ASTM D256-23, and the numerical improvement depends on EVA content, processing conditions, and test temperature. At low temperatures below −40 °C, even 18 wt% vinyl acetate may not provide sufficient impact in thick sections; higher-VA or lower-MFR grades should be evaluated. This boundary is not a limitation of ELVAX 450 alone but a consequence of crystallinity and glass-transition behavior.
In injection molding, ELVAX 450 is processed with a melt temperature typically between 170 °C and 210 °C and a mold temperature between 20 °C and 40 °C. The 8 g/10 min melt mass-flow rate is high enough to fill moderate-flow thin-wall tools but low enough to maintain a stable melt cushion. Injection speed, hold pressure, and screw recovery should be set to limit melt residence time because the same thermal deacetylation boundary applies. Clamp force requirements are determined by projected part area and cavity pressure; no single clamp-force value is specified for the resin. Shrinkage and warpage are dependent on part thickness, mold cooling, and post-molding crystallization; mold shrinkage should be measured on a prototype tool, not assumed from generic polyolefin data. For molded parts requiring low-temperature flexibility, the material offers a useful combination of flexural compliance and surface dryness compared with higher-VA grades.
For food-contact applications, the base EVA resin may be evaluated under FDA 21 CFR 177.1350, which covers ethylene-vinyl acetate copolymers and extractives limitations. The evaluation applies to the base polymer only; tackifiers, waxes, slip agents, and other additives must be assessed separately. In photovoltaic encapsulant service, 18 wt% vinyl acetate is less common than 28–33 wt% because lower VA content increases crystallinity, reduces optical transmission after crosslinking, and raises thermal transition temperatures. If ELVAX 450 is used in a peroxide-cured encapsulant or crosslinked compound, dicumyl peroxide loadings are process-sensitive and must be matched to residence time and oven temperature. Cure state should be measured by moving-die rheometry per ASTM D5289-19, not inferred from hardness or color alone. The crosslinked system must be validated for long-term heat and moisture aging; published data for this specific configuration is limited.
Storage and handling boundaries are relevant because surface moisture, thermal history, and regrind level affect process stability. Pellets should be stored in a dry, covered area away from direct sunlight and ignition sources. If transferred from cold storage to a warm processing area, the material should be allowed to stabilize to ambient temperature before feeding to prevent hopper condensation. Pre-drying at 55–65 °C for 2–4 h in a desiccant dryer is used after exposure above 60% RH. Regrind use should be limited to 20 wt% unless the final application is validated by mechanical testing against the relevant product specification. Reclaim from heated storage should be monitored for acetic acid odor and discoloration because both indicate partial deacetylation. The resin should not be exposed to open flame, strong oxidizing agents, or sustained melt temperatures above 200 °C.
