EVOH is an abbreviation for Ethylene Vinyl Alcohol Copolymer, a high-performance thermoplastic resin renowned for its excellent barrier properties, exhibiting outstanding resistance to oxygen, gases, and liquids.

It is widely used in food packaging, pharmaceutical and daily chemical product packaging materials, and also in automotive fuel tanks and piping.

 

Key Characteristics and Applications of EVOH

 

• High Barrier Properties: Excellent barrier properties against oxygen and other gases; for example, its oxygen barrier performance can be thousands of times greater than that of low-density polyethylene (LDPE).

 

•  Applications:

 

* Packaging: Widely used in food, pharmaceutical, and daily chemical product packaging to maintain product freshness and extend shelf life.

 

√ Food Packaging: Due to its strong barrier properties against gases (especially oxygen), odors, and tastes, food packaging manufacturers use ethylene-vinyl alcohol copolymer (EVOH) in their packaging structures to extend the shelf life of food.

 

One drawback of EVOH is its high sensitivity to moisture, meaning that its barrier properties decrease in high-humidity environments.

Therefore, it is typically used in multilayer films.

In such films, one or more inner layers contain EVOH, while the outer layers are made of other moisture-insensitive plastics (such as polyethylene).

 

Foods requiring packaging with oil-containing EVOH materials include:

◊ Condiments (soy sauce)

◊  Tomato sauce

◊  Food batter

◊  Meat products

◊  Dairy products

◊  Processed fruits

 

√  Pharmaceutical packaging: it is used in fluid embolization systems in interventional radiology, such as Onyx.

Ethylene-vinyl alcohol copolymer dissolved in dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO) and mixed with radioactive opaque materials is used for embolizing blood vessels.

√  Agricultural chemical packaging: EVOH is used in the production of pesticide bottles, utilizing its chemical resistance and barrier properties to prevent pesticide components from evaporating or deteriorating.

This segment accounts for approximately 13% of the demand.

• Piping: Can be used to manufacture oxygen-barrier underfloor heating pipes, ensuring the comfort of indoor living spaces.

The structure of a multi-layer plastic fuel tank, from the outside to the inside, can be divided into: virgin material layer (HDPE), recycled material layer, adhesive layer (LLDPE), barrier layer (EVOH), adhesive layer (LLDPE), and virgin material layer (HDPE).

• Automotive Parts: Due to its excellent oil resistance and solvent barrier properties, it can be used to manufacture containers such as automotive fuel tanks and fuel liner barriers.

• Other Properties: In addition to high barrier properties, EVOH also possesses excellent transparency, abrasion resistance, and mechanical strength.

Main Application Methods

• Co-extrusion Structure: Ethylene Vinyl Alcohol Copolymer resin is combined with materials such as polyolefins or polyamides through co-extrusion technology to form a multilayer composite structure with specific barrier properties.
• Film Lamination: Ethylene Vinyl Alcohol Copolymer films are laminated onto other substrates, or Ethylene Vinyl Alcohol Copolymer is coated with other materials.
• Coating: Ethylene Vinyl Alcohol Copolymer resin is used as a coating for various substrates or single-layer containers to impart barrier properties.

          Product Specifications of Chuanwei Brand Ethylene-Vinyl Alcohol Copolymer Resin (EVOH)

 

ITEM	DATA
	EW-3201	EW-3801
Melt Index (190℃, 2160g/10min)	1.5-2.5	1.5-2.5
Color ≤	20	20
Volatile Matter (w%) ≤	0.3	0.3
Ethylene Content (mol%)	30.0-34.0	36.0-40.0
Density (g/cm3)	1.10-1.20	1.10-1.20

The Grades we are involved with are as follows:

SINOPEC Chuanwei

EW-3201

EW-3801

Taiwan Changchun

EV3251F

EV3851F

Kuraray

F171B

H171B

E105B

EP105B

Also,we are working on the packaging materials which are made of EVOH in China.For more requirements,welcome to contact us.

Demand in future

With increasing demands for food safety, environmental protection (EVOH is recyclable), and product shelf life, the market demand for EVOH as a high-performance barrier material continues to grow, and it is expected to accelerate the replacement of traditional materials such as polyvinylidene chloride (PVDC).

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PRIME CHEMICALS is experienced in polymers, chemicals and modified plastic materials for more than 23 years. If there is any inquiry, welcome to contact us on  Whatsapp: 0086 13817820852.

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