Ethylene vinyl acetate (EVA)
0.75-4 usd/kg
Polymerising polyethylene with vinyl acetate (EVA) produces a very tough, rubber-like, semi-opaque thermoplastic with a relatively low upper working temperature. The vinyl acetate content is adjusted, according to the application, and as a result a range of properties can be achieved. EVA is utilised in moulding, extrusion, films, coatings, adhesives and foams.
Its inherent flexibility and toughness, combined with plasticiser-free chemistry, means it presents an attractive alternative to polyvinyl chloride (PVC) and polyurethane resin (PUR), in some cases.
As a thermoplastic, it is relatively easy to recycle with melt-processing techniques, such as compounding and extrusion. The difficulty with EVA is that it is often combined with other materials, and used as an adhesive interlayer, which makes it challenging, if not impossible, to recycle.
Sustainability concerns
Non-renewable ingredients
Raw material generates polluting by-products
Microplastics
Ethylene vinyl acetate (EVA) films have good resistance to flex cracking, especially at low temperatures, and similar chemical resistance to low density polyethylene (LDPE). They are predominately utilised in packaging and medical applications. Another area of application is laminated glass, such as safety glass and smart switchable glass (polymer dispersed liquid crystal, PDLC, which can turn from transparent to opaque when connected to a power supply). It provides a low cost alternative to polyvinyl butyral (PVB) in some cases. It is useful in these applications, because it has good transparency and good adhesion to glass combined with low precessing temperature.
It is not easy to bond, but can be welded to similar materials and utilised as a hot melt adhesive.
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