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Ethylene-vinyl acetate
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<p>Ethylene-vinyl acetate (EVA), also known as poly(ethylene-vinyl acetate) (PEVA), is a <a href="/facts/Copolymer/35D97DuV">copolymer</a> of <a href="/facts/Ethylene/QMNBYLYn">ethylene</a> and <a href="/facts/Vinyl_acetate/qVdoopEo">vinyl acetate</a>. The weight percent of vinyl acetate usually varies from 10 to 50%, with the remainder being ethylene. There are three different types of EVA copolymer, which differ in the <a href="/facts/Vinyl_acetate/qVdoopEo">vinyl acetate</a> (VA) content and the way the materials are used. </p><p>The EVA copolymer which is based on a low proportion of VA (approximately up to 4%) may be referred to as vinyl acetate modified polyethylene. It is a copolymer and is processed as a <a href="/facts/Thermoplastic/5KJB8dwN">thermoplastic</a> material – just like <a href="/facts/Low-density_polyethylene/qK26w1dJ">low-density polyethylene</a>. It has some of the properties of a low-density polyethylene but increased gloss (useful for film), softness and flexibility. The material is generally considered non-toxic. </p><p>The EVA copolymer which is based on a medium proportion of VA (approximately 4 to 30%) is referred to as thermoplastic ethylene-vinyl acetate copolymer and is a thermoplastic elastomer material. It is not <a href="/facts/Vulcanized/jmBUqGaz">vulcanized</a> but has some of the properties of a rubber or of plasticized <a href="/facts/Polyvinyl_chloride/9VkegJvr">polyvinyl chloride</a> particularly at the higher end of the range. Both filled and unfilled EVA materials have good low temperature properties and are tough. The materials with approximately 11% VA are used as hot-melt adhesives. </p><p>The EVA copolymer which is based on a high proportion of VA (greater than 60%) is referred to as ethylene-vinyl acetate rubber. </p><p>EVA is an <a href="/facts/Elastomer/kCSD0udN">elastomeric</a> <a href="/facts/Polymer/eF32E50K">polymer</a> that produces materials which are "rubber-like" in softness and flexibility. The material has good clarity and gloss, low-temperature <a href="/facts/Toughness/1gEIUdBu">toughness</a>, stress-crack resistance, hot-melt <a href="/facts/Adhesive/shTfIJ0E">adhesive</a> waterproof properties, and resistance to <a href="/facts/UV_radiation/kncBUqn5">UV radiation</a>. EVA has a distinctive vinegar-like odor and is competitive with <a href="/facts/Rubber/CbsjJxhY">rubber</a> and <a href="/facts/Vinyl_polymer/0PDYkH3E">vinyl polymer</a> products in many electrical applications. </p>