| HS Code | 637245 |
| Ethylene Content Mol | 44 |
| Density G Cm³ | 1.14 |
| Melt Flow Rate G 10 Min At 210 C 2 16 Kg | 3.0 |
| Melting Point C | 183 |
| Glass Transition Temperature C | 63 |
| Crystallization Temperature C | 163 |
| Oxygen Transmission Rate Cc 20 µm M² Day Atm At 20 C 65 Rh | 0.4 |
| Tensile Strength At Break Mpa | 75 |
| Elongation At Break | 250 |
| Tensile Modulus Mpa | 2600 |
| Flexural Modulus Mpa | 2700 |
| Water Vapor Transmission Rate G 20 µm M² Day | 30 |
As an accredited Soarnol AT4403B factory, we enforce strict quality protocols—every batch undergoes rigorous testing to ensure consistent efficacy and safety standards.
| Packing | Soarnol AT4403B is supplied in 25 kg moisture-proof, polyethylene-lined paper bags, sealed to preserve quality. |
| Container Loading (20′ FCL) | Soarnol AT4403B is loaded as a 20′ FCL, packed in 25 kg bags on pallets, secured for safe transport. |
| Shipping | Soarnol AT4403B is an EVOH thermoplastic resin supplied as moisture-sensitive pellets. It should be shipped in sealed, moisture-proof packaging to prevent absorption. Transport as non-hazardous material in dry conditions, avoiding humidity, extreme heat, and direct sunlight. Handle with care to maintain product integrity during transit. |
| Storage | Store Soarnol AT4403B in a cool, dry, well-ventilated area away from direct sunlight, heat sources, and open flames. Keep the original container tightly sealed to prevent moisture absorption, as the resin is hygroscopic. Avoid dust accumulation and store at temperatures below 30°C, away from incompatible materials. Use within shelf life. |
| Shelf Life | Shelf life is typically 12 months from manufacture when stored in original, unopened packaging in a cool, dry place. |
Retortable rigid sheets based on polypropylene/tie/Soarnol AT4403B/tie/polypropylene are produced on three- to five-layer coextrusion lines with a feedblock or multi-manifold die. The EVOH layer is commonly set at 3%–10% of total sheet thickness, with 6%–8% specified when retort at 121°C is part of the downstream process because steam exposure produces temporary plasticization and some oxygen barrier loss. Tie layers, typically maleic anhydride-grafted polypropylene, are maintained at 2%–4% of total thickness each; below 2%, interfacial adhesion measured by peel testing drops sharply, and delamination appears in the flange area after thermal processing. Compliance for food contact is covered by EU Regulation 10/2011 and FDA 21 CFR 177.1360 for the EVOH component, with additional converter verification under EC 2023/2006 for good manufacturing practice. The sheet is extruded at melt temperatures between 220°C and 240°C, then thermoformed at sheet surface temperatures between 150°C and 180°C using plug-assisted tools. A critical process conflict arises from the difference in melt viscosity between polypropylene and EVOH: if the EVOH layer is too thin at the die lip, viscosity mismatch leads to layer breakup and pinholes; if the layer is too thick, the sheet curls on cooling because of differences in crystallinity and shrinkage. In deep-draw containers with draw ratios above 3:1, the EVOH layer at the corner may thin to less than half of its original thickness, which is why initial EVOH layer ratios below 4% are inadequate for shelf-stable ready-meal trays. Terminal products include retortable trays, multilayer dairy cups, snack containers, coffee capsules, and microwaveable shelf-stable bowls. Post-retort oxygen transmission of the formed container is tested by ASTM D3985-17 on the sidewall and the corner, not only on flat sheet, because corner thinning controls the barrier performance of the finished pack. Published data for the precise corner-thinning behaviour of AT4403B in high-temperature retort trays is limited; converters therefore run thermoforming trials with grid-formed parts before setting the layer ratio.
Extrusion blow molding of oxygen-sensitive sauces, juices, and dairy-based beverages uses a six-layer parison configuration of high-density polyethylene/tie/Soarnol AT4403B/tie/regrind/high-density polyethylene. The EVOH layer is specified at 3%–8% of total wall thickness; 5% is a common starting point for 500 mL bottles with a target oxygen ingress below 0.01 cm³/package/day at 23°C and 50% RH. The 44 mol% ethylene grade improves parison melt strength and reduces layer non-uniformity compared with 32 mol% EVOH, but it still requires desiccant drying to below 0.01 wt% moisture and melt temperatures between 210°C and 230°C. Food contact compliance is assessed under EU Regulation 10/2011 and FDA 21 CFR 177.1360, with the additional requirement that the total package is tested for migration in a filled condition for acid-based products using 3% acetic acid as food simulant. The production line uses an accumulator head or continuous parison extrusion with a ring stack distributor; parison programming must allocate sufficient EVOH at the pinch-off and shoulder zones, because the pinch-off weld can remove the barrier layer entirely if the inner and outer HDPE layers squeeze together. Intermittent accumulator operation introduces a residence time of up to 15 minutes for the EVOH melt; exceeding 20 minutes at processing temperature leads to gel formation and black speck contamination in the bottle wall. Purging with high-density polyethylene at shutdown and limiting the EVOH melt to 230°C maximum are standard operational boundaries. Terminal products include multilayer bottles for ketchup, barbecue sauce, soy sauce, juice, and shelf-stable dairy-based beverages. Oxygen transmission rate of the bottle is measured by ASTM D3985-17 on the sidewall and by whole-container oxygen ingress testing, while melt flow stability is checked by ISO 1133-1:2022 for incoming resin lots.
| Application segment | Food contact / migration | Barrier / permeation | Mechanical / process |
|---|---|---|---|
| Flexible film | EU 10/2011; FDA 21 CFR 177.1360 | ASTM D3985-17; ASTM F1249-20 | ISO 527-3; ISO 1133-1:2022 |
| Rigid sheet / trays | EU 10/2011; EC 2023/2006 | ASTM D3985-17 | ISO 527-2:2012; converter peel method |
| Bottles / jars | EU 10/2011; FDA 21 CFR 177.1360 | whole-container oxygen ingress; ASTM D3985-17 | ISO 1133-1:2022; ISO 2248 drop test |
| Pharmaceutical blisters | Ph. Eur. 3.1.15; USP <661.1> | ASTM D3985-17; ASTM F1249-20 | ISO 527-3; thermoforming grid trials |
| Fuel tanks | not applicable | SHED testing under 40 CFR Part 86; CARB LEV III | ISO 6603-1; OEM drop impact |
| Tube laminates | EU 1223/2009; FDA 21 CFR 177.1360 | ASTM D3985-17; ASTM F1249-20 | ISO 527-3; side seam burst |
Fuel tank coextrusion lines using accumulator-head multilayer blow molding typically run a six-layer sequence of HDPE/regrind/tie/Soarnol AT4403B/tie/HDPE. The EVOH layer is specified at 1.5%–3.0% of total wall thickness; at a nominal wall thickness of 6 mm, this represents an EVOH layer of 90–180 µm. The production process uses a multilayer accumulator head, parison programming, and crosshead distribution of the barrier layer, with HDPE processed at 200–230°C and EVOH maintained at 210–230°C. Pre-drying to below 0.01 wt% moisture and purging with HDPE at shutdown are mandatory to prevent gel specks in the barrier layer. Permeation compliance is validated through evaporative emission certification under US EPA 40 CFR Part 86 and CARB LEV III, using sealed housing evaporative determination test cycles on the complete fuel system. The operational boundary for alcohol-containing fuels is significant: high ethanol blends plasticize the EVOH layer and reduce its barrier contribution, requiring an increase in EVOH layer thickness toward the upper end of the specified range and additional validation after fuel aging. Pinch-off zones at the tank seam are process-critical because the EVOH layer can be squeezed out completely if parison programming does not maintain local barrier thickness; barrier continuity is verified by sectioning the pinch-off area and performing permeation testing on welded tank sections. Terminal products include gasoline fuel tanks, flex-fuel vehicle tanks, and multilayer tanks for low-permeation diesel fuel systems. Published field data for prolonged ethanol exposure of AT4403B fuel tanks under high-temperature storage cycles is limited; qualification programmes therefore impose additional evaporative emission cycles after equivalent 20,000 km of flex-fuel field simulation.
Tube laminate barrier redesign from PVdC to Soarnol AT4403B reduces chlorine-containing waste streams but imposes a narrower moisture window during extrusion. The tube body structure is produced by multi-layer coextrusion through a flat die, typically as polyethylene/white polyethylene/tie/Soarnol AT4403B/tie/polyethylene. The EVOH layer is maintained at 4%–8% of total laminate thickness, or approximately 10–25 µm in a 250–350 µm wall. Side seam welding of the formed tube body requires edge trimming so that the EVOH layer does not extend to the weld zone; exposed EVOH at the seam creates delamination and crack propagation. Compliance for cosmetic packaging is verified under EU Cosmetic Regulation 1223/2009, while food-grade tube applications fall under EU Regulation 10/2011 and FDA 21 CFR 177.1360. Terminal products include toothpaste tubes, cosmetic ointment tubes, pharmaceutical ointment tubes, and industrial adhesive tubes. Process limits include pre-drying to below 0.01 wt% moisture, melt temperature between 210°C and 230°C, and purging with polyethylene during shutdown to avoid EVOH gels in the flat die. Barrier performance of the finished laminate is measured by ASTM D3985-17 for oxygen and ASTM F1249-20 for moisture vapour transmission.
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Soarnol AT4403B is a barrier-grade ethylene-vinyl alcohol copolymer containing 44 mol% ethylene. The grade is supplied through the Soarnol portfolio and is used as the oxygen-barrier core in coextruded sheet, film, and rigid food-packaging structures. Published technical data identify the low melt flow rate of AT4403B as a processing differentiator within the 44 mol% ethylene series, reducing melt sag during sheet extrusion and improving layer distribution in deep-draw thermoforming. Unlike EVOH grades with ethylene contents of 29–32 mol%, AT4403B shifts the comonomer balance toward lower hydroxyl density, which reduces dry-condition oxygen barrier but improves flex-crack resistance, thermoformability, and moisture tolerance. The resin is not designed for monolayer extrusion or direct food contact; it functions as a buried barrier layer between adhesive tie resins and polyolefin skins such as polypropylene, polyethylene, or polystyrene. Barrier layer thickness in typical multilayer sheet is 5–15 μm, while cast film structures commonly use 3–6 μm of AT4403B depending on the target oxygen transmission rate and shelf life.
The AT4403B designation corresponds to a high-ethylene EVOH with a melt flow rate at the low end of the Soarnol range. The remaining vinyl alcohol segments provide interchain hydrogen bonding, which restricts oxygen diffusion through the dry polymer matrix. Melt flow rate is measured according to ISO 1133-1 at 190 °C with a 2160 g load; density is measured according to ISO 1183-1. Thermal transitions are determined by differential scanning calorimetry under ISO 11357-3. Oxygen transmission rate is measured on cast film specimens and normalized to a 20 μm thickness according to ASTM D3985-17.
| Property | Value | Test method |
|---|---|---|
| Ethylene content | 44 mol% | Infrared spectroscopy, supplier reported |
| Melt flow rate | 3.2 g/10 min at 190 °C, 2160 g | ISO 1133-1 |
| Density | 1.14 g/cm³ | ISO 1183-1 |
| Melting temperature | 164 °C | ISO 11357-3 |
| Crystallization temperature | 142 °C | ISO 11357-3 |
| Oxygen transmission rate, 20 °C, 0 % RH | 0.5 cm³·20 μm/(m²·day·atm) | ASTM D3985-17 |
| Oxygen transmission rate, 20 °C, 65 % RH | 1.4 cm³·20 μm/(m²·day·atm) | ASTM D3985-17 |
The melting temperature of 164 °C is a DSC peak value and is not a direct processing setpoint. Melt extrusion is performed above the melting temperature, normally with a melt temperature target of 215–225 °C. The crystallization temperature of 142 °C affects cooling-roll settings and post-forming dimensional stability. Cooling-roll temperatures for PP/tie/EVOH/tie/PP sheet are commonly held between 60 °C and 90 °C to balance sheet clarity against trimming behavior. The density of 1.14 g/cm³ is lower than that of a 29 mol% ethylene grade such as Soarnol D2908, reflecting the higher ethylene content and reduced hydroxyl packing density.
The oxygen barrier of AT4403B follows the characteristic humidity dependence of EVOH. At 20 °C and 0 % RH, the oxygen transmission rate is 0.5 cm³·20 μm/(m²·day·atm), equivalent to an oxygen permeability coefficient of 10 cm³·μm/(m²·day·atm). At 65 % RH, the transmission rate increases to 1.4 cm³·20 μm/(m²·day·atm). The change is caused by water absorption in the vinyl alcohol phase, which disrupts interchain hydrogen bonding and increases free volume for oxygen diffusion. Compared with a 29 mol% ethylene grade, AT4403B exhibits higher dry-condition oxygen permeability but a less severe humidity sensitivity because its higher ethylene content reduces equilibrium moisture uptake at a given relative humidity. Published oxygen transmission data for AT4403B at 90 % RH remains limited; packages intended for tropical or high-humidity distribution should be tested on the complete multilayer structure rather than estimated from a single normalized resin value.
Oxygen transmission through a formed tray is not uniform. A flat sheet containing 10 μm of AT4403B at 20 °C and 0 % RH has a calculated oxygen transmission rate near 1.0 cm³/(m²·day·atm), based on inverse thickness scaling from the 20 μm normalized value. Actual package transmission is higher at tray corners because thermoforming thins the barrier layer and may reduce local layer continuity. Layer-distribution microscopy on microtomed corner sections is used to confirm minimum barrier thickness after forming. In dry-blend or melt-blend morphologies, the barrier is effective only when AT4403B forms a continuous layer; dispersed EVOH domains in a polyolefin matrix bypass oxygen barrier through the continuous polyolefin phase. Published data for AT4403B in dispersed morphologies is limited.
Moisture uptake by AT4403B is higher than that of polyolefins. Pellets exposed at 23 °C and 60 % RH can reach moisture contents above 0.3 wt% within 24 h. Pre-drying is required at ambient relative humidity above 60 % or whenever packaging has been opened. Hopper drying at 90–110 °C for 4–6 h with a desiccant dryer and a dew point below −40 °C reduces moisture to below 0.1 wt%. Under-dried AT4403B produces splay, microvoids, and localized barrier defects in the coextruded core. Extruder configuration for the barrier layer normally uses a single-screw extruder with L/D ≥ 24:1 and a progressive compression screw. Barrel zones are set from 180 °C to 220 °C, with the adaptor and die at 220 °C. A screen pack of 60/80/60 mesh is placed upstream of a melt pump to remove gel particles and foreign material. The narrow melt-temperature window requires active monitoring: melt temperature below 205 °C raises viscosity and may distort the layer interfaces, while sustained exposure above 230 °C increases the risk of vinyl alcohol degradation. Above 240 °C, gel formation accelerates, and the resin may discolor within 10 min of stagnant residence. The preferred operating window is therefore 215–225 °C, with lateral die-temperature variation held within ±5 °C. At shutdown, the barrier-layer extruder is purged with low-melt-index LDPE or a designated commercial purge compound until the melt stream is clear.
The principal difference between AT4403B and other Soarnol grades in the 44 mol% ethylene class is melt flow rate. AT4403B has a melt flow rate of 3.2 g/10 min, while Soarnol A4412B is reported at 12 g/10 min under the same ISO 1133-1 conditions. The lower melt flow rate of AT4403B increases melt tension and sag resistance in the vertical web between the die and the take-off unit. In deep-draw thermoforming with draw ratios above 1.5:1, the higher melt strength allows a more uniform wall thickness at the tray corners before forming pressure is applied. The trade-off is higher extruder head pressure and reduced maximum screw output relative to a higher-MFR grade. Direct comparative trials on a 30:1 L/D barrier extruder are recommended to quantify the output penalty for a specific screw design.
Compared with a 29 mol% ethylene grade such as Soarnol D2908, AT4403B provides lower dry oxygen barrier but significantly better flex-crack resistance during package transport and after thermoforming. The lower ethylene grade has a higher glass transition temperature and a more rigid barrier layer, which can develop pinholes and flex cracks when the package is folded or vibrated. AT4403B is therefore selected for trays, cups, and flexible packages that require repeated flexing, while D2908 is preferred for high-barrier flexible film in low-moisture environments. The higher ethylene content of AT4403B also permits lower processing temperatures and reduces the melting-point gap between the EVOH layer and polypropylene skin layers.
Feedblock sequencing for five-layer sheet places AT4403B between two adhesive tie layers, typically maleated polypropylene or maleated polyethylene, followed by polypropylene or polystyrene skins. The EVOH core layer is normally 5–10 % of total sheet thickness. In a 1000 μm sheet, this corresponds to 50–100 μm of AT4403B before forming. After corner thinning, the barrier layer may fall to 20–40 μm, which must be counted in the oxygen transmission calculation. In sheet coextrusion, the AT4403B melt temperature is maintained at 220 °C, and the tie-layer melt temperature is matched within ±5 °C to avoid viscosity discontinuities at the interface. A feedblock with viscosity-insensitive layer distribution is used when combining polypropylene, tie resin, and AT4403B. An encapsulating die is selected if edge trim exposes the EVOH layer, because exposed EVOH absorbs atmospheric moisture and may create delamination at the sheet edge.
Edge trim containing AT4403B can be reground into the polypropylene skin layer at ≤20 wt% only when the trim is dry, ground to particles below 6 mm, and fed with a gravimetric dosing system. Higher regrind levels or moisture-contaminated trim produce die lines, gels, and barrier-layer discontinuities. During startup, the EVOH extruder is operated at low speed and the AT4403B core is sealed inside the skin layers before the sheet reaches the cooling unit. Prolonged exposure of molten AT4403B to air at the die exit should be minimized because oxidation can form carbonyl species and reduce adhesion to tie resins. Equipment with external deckle rods or adjustable restrictor bars is adjusted only after the layer distribution has been confirmed by beta-gauge or infrared thickness measurement.
AT4403B is supplied with food-contact compliance statements referencing FDA 21 CFR 177.1360 and Regulation (EU) No 10/2011. The grade is manufactured under a documented quality system and is registered under REACH and TSCA frameworks where applicable. However, the food-contact status of a finished multilayer article is not a property of the EVOH resin alone. The final package must be tested for overall migration and specific migration according to the intended food simulant and time-temperature conditions. For polypropylene-based retort packaging, overall migration testing is commonly conducted according to EN 1186-1 using 3 % w/v acetic acid and 10 % v/v ethanol simulants at 121 °C for 30 min. For chilled food trays, testing may use 50 % v/v ethanol or vegetable oil simulants depending on the food type. Specific migration testing is conducted according to EN 13130-1 where required for residual monomers or additives. The adhesive tie layers and polyolefin skin resins contribute their own migrants, so the compliance status of the complete structure must be evaluated before commercial use.
AT4403B should not be used in direct contact with highly acidic or basic aqueous food at elevated temperature unless the EVOH layer is fully encapsulated and migration testing on the actual article demonstrates compliance. The melting and crystallization behavior of 44 mol% ethylene EVOH allows short-duration retort use up to 121 °C, but oxygen barrier after retort can increase depending on skin-layer permeability, retort duration, and moisture uptake. Published data for AT4403B in retort-aged multilayer structures is limited, so accelerated aging on the specific package is required for shelf-life calculations.
