| HS Code | 141940 |
| Vinyl Acetate Content | 15 wt% |
| Melt Flow Rate 190 C 2 16 Kg | 8 g/10 min |
| Density | 0.935 g/cm3 |
| Melting Point Dsc | 84°C |
| Tensile Strength At Break | 16 MPa |
| Elongation At Break | 850% |
| Flexural Modulus | 90 MPa |
| Hardness | 40 Shore D |
| Vicat Softening Point | 62°C |
| Brittleness Temperature | -70°C |
| Appearance | Solid Pellets |
As an accredited ELVAX 550 Ethylene Vinyl Acetate Copolymer factory, we enforce strict quality protocols—every batch undergoes rigorous testing to ensure consistent efficacy and safety standards.
| Packing | ELVAX 550 ethylene vinyl acetate copolymer is supplied as free-flowing pellets in 25 kg bags, ensuring safe handling and storage. |
| Container Loading (20′ FCL) | ELVAX 550 is loaded into a 20′ FCL as palletized, stretch-wrapped bags, secured with dunnage to ensure safe transit. |
| Shipping | ELVAX 550 Ethylene Vinyl Acetate Copolymer ships as non-hazardous plastic resin pellets. Typical packaging includes 25 kg bags, supersacks, or bulk hopper trucks. Keep dry, avoid prolonged heat and direct sunlight. No special hazardous transport requirements; standard freight handling with proper labeling is sufficient. |
| Storage | Store ELVAX 550 Ethylene Vinyl Acetate Copolymer 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, which can cause degradation, discoloration, or agglomeration of pellets. Follow manufacturer recommendations for shelf life and handling. |
| Shelf Life | Shelf life is typically 2 years when stored in original sealed containers in a cool, dry area. |
A nominal 15 wt% vinyl acetate random copolymer with a melt index of 8.0 g/10 min at 190°C/2.16 kg measured by ISO 1133-1:2022 is introduced into the sealant layer of five-layer cast coextrusion lines at 20–30 wt% of the sealant web. The function is to lower heat-seal initiation temperature while retaining interlayer adhesion measured by ASTM D1876-08 and film clarity measured by ASTM D1003; seal initiation falls to 85–95°C when the layer contains 25 wt% ELVAX 550, compared with unmodified LLDPE, as measured on a gradient heat-seal tester following ASTM F88/F88M. The downstream process uses gravimetric pellet feeding into a 65–90 mm extruder with 30–33:1 L/D screw, barrel temperatures 180–230°C, feedblock layer distribution 15–25% of total film thickness, die lip opening 0.5–0.8 mm, and chilled-roll temperatures 15–20°C. Food-contact compliance is reviewed against FDA 21 CFR 177.1350 for ethylene-vinyl acetate copolymers and EU Regulation No 10/2011, including overall migration limit 10 mg/dm²; the converter assumes responsibility for finished article verification because slip and antiblock additions alter the sealing plateau and hot-tack behavior measured by ASTM F1921-18. Terminal finished types include lidding films for dairy cups, frozen vegetable pouches, and medical overwrap laminates where low seal force measured by ASTM F88/F88M and reduced seal path variability are specified.
In hot-melt adhesive compounding, ELVAX 550 is charged as the polymeric backbone at 25–35 wt% of the total formulation, with tackifying resin at 30–45 wt%, wax at 20–35 wt%, and hindered phenolic antioxidant at 0.5–1.0 wt%. The 15 wt% vinyl acetate content restricts tackifier selection; rosin ester systems with acid numbers below 10 mg KOH/g are preferred because higher acid values accelerate viscosity drift during prolonged holding at 160°C. Production-scale mixing uses a jacketed sigma-blade batch melter or a continuous twin-screw extruder with barrel zones between 130°C and 180°C, followed by a heated melt reservoir with gear-pump feed and slot-die or roller coating heads. Carton sealing lines applying adhesive at 150–170°C maintain pot-life stability for 6–8 h when the reservoir is blanketed with nitrogen; beyond that window, vinyl acetate degradation liberates acetic acid, causes water-bath pH decrease, and leads to corrosion on uncoated carbon steel surfaces. The relevant food-contact compliance is FDA 21 CFR 175.105 for adhesives, and EU Regulation No 10/2011 applies where the adhesive is separated from food by a functional barrier; monomer registration under REACH Regulation (EC) No 1907/2006 is maintained by the resin supplier. Terminal product types include corrugated case sealing, booklet spine gluing, and tray-erection adhesives for dairy multipack cartons where fiber-tearing bond strength measured by ASTM D1876-08 is part of the acceptance specification.
| ELVAX 550 (wt%) | Tackifier (wt%) | Wax (wt%) | Application temperature (°C) | Acceptance method |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 25 | 45 | 30 | 150–160 | ASTM D1876-08 T-peel |
| 30 | 38 | 32 | 155–165 | ASTM D4498-07 heat-fail temperature in shear |
| 35 | 30 | 35 | 160–170 | ASTM D3236-88 Brookfield viscosity at 180°C |
Curtain coating of corrugated board uses ELVAX 550 at 1–5 wt% in refined paraffin or a paraffin/microcrystalline blend to increase coating flexibility and fold endurance without pushing the melt viscosity beyond the shear-rate window of the curtain coater head. The wax kettle is held at 110–125°C under low-shear agitation; above 130°C localized overheating can initiate acetic acid release and discoloration. EVA pellets are added after the wax is fully molten, and the blend is circulated through a 45–70 µm screen pack before reaching the coater head; coating weight is maintained at 4–7 kg/100 m² for produce boxes. Food-contact regulatory review is conducted under FDA 21 CFR 176.170 for paper and paperboard contacting aqueous and fatty foods and FDA 21 CFR 176.180 for dry food; the final paperboard converter verifies extraction compliance for the specific wax blend. Terminal finished product types include wax-coated corrugated produce boxes, meat and poultry transport cartons, and agricultural bulk bins where water resistance by Cobb test ISO 535 and fold endurance by ISO 5626 are specified.
In color concentrate production, a carrier resin with lower crystallinity measured by ISO 11357-3 than high-density polyethylene and higher melt index measured by ISO 1133-1:2022 than fractional-melt linear low-density grades is selected to limit melt-pressure rise in twin-screw compounding and to disperse organic pigments at lower torque. ELVAX 550 is used at 60–80 wt% of the masterbatch carrier phase, with pigments or additive packages at 20–40 wt% depending on color strength; the pellet has nominal density 0.92–0.94 g/cm³ by ISO 1183-1:2019. Compounding is performed on a co-rotating twin-screw extruder with 30–40:1 L/D and screw speed 300–600 rpm, barrel zones from 120°C to 150°C, and strand pelletizing after water-bath cooling. Because a masterbatch carrier is consumed within the final plastic formulation, compliance is assessed under REACH Regulation (EC) No 1907/2006 for ethylene and vinyl acetate monomer registration and, when the terminal film or molding is intended for food contact, under FDA 21 CFR 177.1350 or EU Regulation No 10/2011 as part of the final article. Terminal finished product types are polyolefin color masterbatches, antioxidant and slip-agent concentrates, and UV-stabilizer concentrates for agricultural film and injection molding.
ELVAX 550 is incorporated into LDPE-rich cable sheathing compounds at 5–15 wt% to improve environmental stress-crack resistance measured by ASTM D1693 in 10% Igepal CO-630 at 50°C and to extend low-temperature elongation measured by IEC 60811-504 at -25°C without shifting melt flow rate outside extrusion ranges measured by ISO 1133-1:2022. The compound is produced on a twin-screw extruder with 40:1 L/D, barrel zones set from 140°C to 200°C, and melt filtration through a 100–150 µm breaker plate before the cable crosshead die. Process limitations are distinct: sustained melt temperatures above 210°C cause vinyl acetate decomposition and acetic acid evolution, which causes water-bath pH decrease and corrodes unlined carbon steel tooling; pre-drying at 70°C for 2 h is applied only when storage relative humidity exceeds 60% RH or pellet surface condensation is visible. Compliance for the final sheath is evaluated under IEC 60811-501 for tensile strength and elongation at break, IEC 60502-1 for low-voltage cable construction up to 1 kV, and RoHS Directive 2011/65/EU for restricted substance control. Terminal finished product types include low-voltage power distribution cable jackets, control cable sheaths, and buried installation cables where crush resistance specified in IEC 60502-1 and low-temperature elongation specified in IEC 60811-504 are part of the purchase specification.
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ELVAX 550 Ethylene Vinyl Acetate Copolymer is a low-vinyl-acetate pelletized resin in which the nominal vinyl acetate comonomer content is 15 wt% when determined by ASTM D5594 or ISO 8985. Melt mass-flow rate is specified as 8.0 g/10 min under ASTM D1238 at 190 °C with a 2.16 kg load, which places the grade in the moderate-flow region for compounding, hot-melt mixing, and profile extrusion. Density at 23 °C is approximately 0.94 g/cm³ by ASTM D792. The copolymer retains sufficient polyethylene crystallinity for stiffness and oil resistance while the vinyl acetate repeat units supply polar functionality for adhesion, filler wetting, and compatibility with tackifiers. The product differs from higher-vinyl-acetate ELVAX grades by lower polarity and lower ambient-temperature tack, and differs from lower-vinyl-acetate grades by improved hot-tack and better bond development on paperboard and aluminum foil. These values are typical resin measurements, not release specifications, and should be verified against the certificate of analysis for each lot.
Melt processing of ELVAX 550 is bounded by the thermal stability of the vinyl acetate comonomer. In a 40 mm co-rotating twin-screw extruder with an L/D 40:1 configuration, barrel zone settings from 170 °C to 210 °C are standard for compounding and filler incorporation. Sustained operation above 230 °C accelerates deacetylation, liberating acetic acid and producing gels, discoloration, and corrosion on unprotected carbon steel surfaces. Production-scale compounding lines therefore specify chrome-plated or nitrided barrel liners, vacuum venting, and melt residence time below 15 min when upper-temperature operation cannot be avoided. At the lower processing boundary, the 8.0 g/10 min melt mass-flow rate allows strand pelletizing and injection molding without excessive head pressure, provided the die and tip are maintained above 150 °C. Pellets stored in unheated warehouses at relative humidity above 60% may accumulate surface moisture; a 2 h desiccant drying cycle at 60 °C with a -20 °C dew point is applied to prevent splay and adhesive foaming. These limits are operational guidance for EVA copolymer lines, not regulatory exposure limits.
Hot-melt adhesive compounding with ELVAX 550 is typically performed in a jacketed sigma-blade or planetary mixer at 160–180 °C under nitrogen. The resin is introduced after the tackifier and wax have melted to shorten wetting time and reduce shear heating. Antioxidant packages based on hindered phenols or phosphites are usually added at 0.1–0.5 wt% to limit viscosity drift. Finished adhesive viscosity is measured with a Brookfield Thermosel under ASTM D3236 at 180 °C; the result is formulation-dependent and cannot be inferred from the resin melt mass-flow rate alone. Softening point is controlled by ASTM E28, and bond strength on Kraft paper or corrugated board is evaluated by ASTM D1876 T-peel adhesion. A formulation containing 30 wt% ELVAX 550, 35 wt% C5 hydrocarbon tackifier, and 35 wt% paraffin wax produces a low-viscosity packaging adhesive, but no single viscosity range should be assigned to the resin without measuring the complete formulation on the target application equipment.
ELVAX 550 differs from ELVAX 450 mainly in vinyl acetate content: ELVAX 450 carries 18 wt% vinyl acetate at the same 8.0 g/10 min melt mass-flow rate. The higher-VA grade yields lower crystalline melting point, greater polarity, and stronger adhesion to aluminum foil and oriented polypropylene film. ELVAX 550 shows lower equilibrium moisture pickup, better retention of peel strength at elevated temperature in aliphatic wax-rich formulas, and reduced gear-pump cavitation at equal mass temperature. Compared with ELVAX 650 and ELVAX 750, which contain 12 wt% and 9 wt% vinyl acetate respectively, the 15 wt% comonomer content of ELVAX 550 provides greater hot-tack and better low-temperature flexibility while retaining enough crystallinity for clean pellet cutting and strand solidification. Against ethylene-butyl acrylate copolymers of similar melt flow rate, ELVAX 550 offers higher stiffness and lower density but a narrower upper processing window because of deacetylation. Published data for direct performance parity on all substrate combinations is limited; substitution should be validated on the specific coating, laminating, or filling line.
| Grade | Nominal vinyl acetate content (wt%) | Melt mass-flow rate (g/10 min, ASTM D1238, 190 °C/2.16 kg) | Density (g/cm³, ASTM D792) |
|---|---|---|---|
| ELVAX 450 | 18 | 8.0 | 0.94 |
| ELVAX 550 | 15 | 8.0 | 0.94 |
| ELVAX 650 | 12 | 8.0 | 0.94 |
| ELVAX 750 | 9 | 7.0 | 0.93 |
Because ASTM D1238 reports a single-point, low-shear flow value, it does not describe high-shear behavior in slot dies or coating heads. Capillary rheometry under ASTM D3835 is used when die pressure drop or shear-viscosity curves are required. ELVAX 550 exhibits shear-thinning behavior over the 100–1000 s⁻¹ shear-rate range at 190 °C; exact viscosity values must be measured on the lot because melt mass-flow rate tolerances alone do not guarantee identical flow behavior. Melt temperature, screw speed, and die land length influence apparent viscosity more strongly in high-shear operations than in adhesive pot mixing.
In extrusion coating and coextrusion heat-seal layers, ELVAX 550 is processed through a slot die with a die gap of 0.6–0.8 mm and melt temperature at the die of 190–210 °C. Chill roll temperature is maintained at 10–20 °C to limit blocking. Neck-in is greater than that of low-density polyethylene at equal screw speed because of the copolymer’s lower extensional viscosity, so die-lip adjustment or edge encapsulation with LDPE is used to stabilize web width. Heat-seal initiation temperature and seal strength are assessed on the finished coated substrate using ASTM F1921 and ASTM F88/F88M. The use of ELVAX 550 in a heat-seal layer is appropriate where a low seal-initiation temperature and puncture resistance are required, but the final seal window must be determined on the customer’s filling line because seal bar pressure, dwell time, and substrate contamination shift the measured values.
Wax modification is another application for ELVAX 550. In paraffin wax blends for corrugated board coatings and investment casting patterns, addition levels of 2–10 wt% are common to reduce brittleness and improve flex-crack resistance. Higher loadings may increase off-gassing in the coating tank and raise melt viscosity. Mixing is carried out at 100–120 °C with a high-shear disperser until a clear solution is obtained; prolonged mixing above 180 °C produces a detectable acetic acid odor and indicates thermal degradation. The modified wax is evaluated by ASTM D1321 needle penetration and ASTM D938 congealing point to adjust the copolymer proportion. Because ELVAX 550 has a relatively low softening temperature, the final wax blend should be checked for blocking at 40 °C storage.
Food-contact use of ELVAX 550 must be verified under FDA 21 CFR 177.1350 for ethylene-vinyl acetate copolymers, which applies to adhesives and coatings subject to end-use extraction limits. European Regulation (EU) No 10/2011 requires overall migration testing and specific migration limits for vinyl acetate monomer in the final article. Under GHS, the polymer is not classified as hazardous; combustion decomposition products include acetic acid and carbon monoxide. REACH and RoHS declarations are supplier- and lot-specific and do not replace end-product documentation. The resin should not be blended with amine-based curing agents or strongly alkaline fillers because the acetate groups can undergo acid-base reactions that reduce molecular weight and liberate acetic acid. Dry storage below 40 °C is recommended to prevent pellet blocking, and inventory should be rotated to limit long-term oxidative changes in the polymer.
