By now, you must have definitely used floor mats, padded sports equipment, hot glue sticks, or foam craft sheets. From home and sports to business and education, various things are made from Ethylene Vinyl Acetate (EVA) that we use in our daily lives. EVA is a versatile and dynamic material used across a range of industries from sports equipment to automotive manufacturing.
With this in mind, let’s delve into the properties, uses, and innovations associated with EVA resins and films, and explore their enormous potential in modern manufacturing.
A Closer Look At The Efficient And Versatile EVA Resins And Films
Ethylene-vinyl acetate (EVA) is an advanced type of polyethylene that is a copolymer made of ethylene and vinyl acetate monomers. There are three types of ethylene vinyl acetate, and depending on the amount of vinyl acetate added, the material can be a film, a rubber-like structure known as resin, or a foam. Typically, EVA containing 10-40% vinyl acetate is the most extensively employed in the industry.
EVA is known for its unique properties, which make it an ideal material for various applications. Versatile properties of EVA resins and films include:
Higher Durability
EVA resins and films are known for their durability and ability to maintain their protective properties even in harsh environments. The high-quality EVA films have excellent durability than the low-quality ones, even under difficult weather conditions such as high temperatures and humidity. They also provide good resistance to damage from UV light. Additionally, researchers have been working on enhancing the outdoor durability of EVA films by mixing them with additives like curing agents and UV absorbers. This has resulted in even greater durability and longevity of EVA films.
Better in Flexibility and Sealability
The flexibility and heat sealability properties of EVA enable it to adhere to various surfaces while maintaining a good bond strength. Therefore, EVA films are commonly used for adhesive bonding in several industries, like packaging and photovoltaic encapsulants. The hot-melt adhesives made from EVA resins are also popular in packaging applications. There are various methods and materials used to enhance the bonding of EVA to other films, such as extrusion coating primers and tie layer resins.
Excellent Transperancy
EVA resins and films are also recognized for their excellent transparency. EVA films are extensively used for encapsulation in solar panels, as well as other applications where transparency is important. Additionally, EVA is often used in the production of laminating films and other packaging materials where clarity is crucial. The outstanding adhesive properties of EVA film are non-sticky, and its surface is smooth, which makes it ideal for applications where clarity and visibility are important. EVA is also known for its excellent overall performance and low-temperature brittleness, making it an attractive material in a wide range of industries.
Superior Shock Absorption
EVA resins and films are frequently used in applications that require shock absorption. For example, EVA is commonly used as a shock absorber in sports shoes to reduce the impact of running and other physical activities. EVA films are also used in the construction of photovoltaic panels, where their shock-absorbing properties help to protect delicate components from damage.
Additionally, researchers at the U.S., the National Laboratory of Medicine, have investigated the use of EVA foams for shock absorption applications. According to their report, maximizing the thickness of the EVA film and labial of a mouthguard, and adding labial inserts such as soft, stiff, and air space can improve the mouthguard shock absorption capabilities during small hard object collisions.
Will These Innovations Make EVA Resins And Films Valuable Materials In A Wide Spectrum Of Industries?
However, EVA resins and films have numerous advantages, many manufacturers are taking the initiative to incorporate it into their products. There have been several innovations in EVA resin and film formulations in recent years. Some of them include:
Cleaver Application of EVA Films in Glass Processing
EVA film is a high-viscosity film material created with a high-molecular-weight resin as the main raw material, special additives, and special equipment. EVA film has become increasingly advanced as a result of constant research and development, and domestic EVA film has also shifted from import to export.
China E&N Film Technology Co., Ltd. is a high-tech enterprise that is focusing on the EVA film industry. In their new production of architectural glass, EVA glass interlayer intermediate film is commonly used to manufacture bulletproof, anti-theft, fireproof, soundproof, thermally insulated, and explosion-proof glass.
Eva Films to Maintain the Quality And Reliability of The Solar Panels
PIXON is a leading solar module manufacturer that is specialized in manufacturing high-quality solar modules and EVA Film. This company has established itself as a trustworthy and efficient manufacturer of solar panels and has built a solid reputation among its customers in a short time.
The manufacturing capacity of PIXON is its distinguishing feature. Earlier, the capacity of EVA films was 400 MW, but it is expanded to 1 GW to make higher ‘WP Multibusbar’ modules using European technology. This advanced production line uses minimum human intervention to maintain the quality and reliability of the solar panels. Customers may optimize their energy production with these advanced modules, which provide improved efficiency and power output.
Lucent Clean Energy is the manufacturer and global supplier of TopEVA™-that manufacture high-quality EVA films to make solar energy more affordable and accessible across the globe. Their EVA films provide a protective layer for solar panels, protecting them from external variables such as moisture, UV radiation, and mechanical stress.
Adoption of EVA to Minimize Greenhouse Effect
EVA films are made from copolymers of ethylene vinyl acetate plus additives. However, EVA films have properties such as toughness, impact resistance, durability, strength, transparency, bonding strength, moisture resistance, and high elongation at break. It is used in the building and automotive industries to provide safety, insulation, anti-UV characteristics, and sound insulation. Rising green building construction activity is expected to boost the demand for EVA resins and films. Increased adoption of EVA films to minimize greenhouse gas emissions due to the CO2 collecting property of resin during the manufacturing process indirectly lowering global warming and protecting the earth. This implementation of EVA films will increase their significant demand in the industry.
Parting Thoughts
EVA resins and films are highly versatile materials that offer a range of desirable properties and find broad applications across various industries. EVA resins and films are known for their excellent transparency, toughness, shock-absorbing capabilities, and adhesion properties. These properties allow EVA films to have applications in the packaging industry and the construction of photovoltaic panels. EVA resins are used extensively in the production of hot-melt adhesives in packaging applications and as adhesives in the textile industry. Despite the challenges posed by the bonding of EVA to other films and surfaces, ongoing research into the development of new methods and materials holds great promise.
