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Sample report for adhesive category. Other reports may vary in format.
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| 15.13USA - Ethylene Vinyl Acetate (EVA) Copolymers (>50% Ethylene) - U.S. Adhesives
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Ethylene Vinyl Acetate (EVA) Copolymers are conventionally regarded as those copolymers of ethylene and vinyl acetate where the weight percentage of ethylene in the polymer molecule exceeds that of the vinyl acetate.
Adhesive grades generally fall in the range of 14 to 35% vinyl acetate and have a Melt Index (a measure of tendency to flow at elevated temperature) in the range of 5 to 2500. They are manufactured in high pressure polymerization capacity that has, for the most part been installed to serve markets other than adhesives. In most cases, these markets are for extrusion grade modified polyethylenes intended for conversion into film for various packaging applications, often with much lower levels of vinyl acetate content. In other cases, the alternate use of the capacity is for high value-added polymers such as ionomers, destined for specialty applications e.g., golf ball covers.
The vinyl acetate content and the molecular weight range influence adhesive properties and hot melt rheology. The higher the ethylene content, the better the specific adhesion to non-polar substrates, such as polyolefins. The polymers higher in vinyl acetate show improved adhesion to polar substrates, such as paper. Lower molecular weight polymers yield lower-melt viscosity hot melts that are easier to process and apply. These also provide better wetting and, thus, improved mechanical adhesion to porous substrates, such as paper and wood. Higher molecular weight polymers are used for applications requiring optimum cohesive strength at elevated temperatures and good low temperature flexibility.
It is probably true that the volume and margins available for adhesive grade EVA are insufficient to justify grass roots investment on a stand-alone basis. It is also true that the contribution of adhesive EVA to the economics of a plant intended for volume film grades is valued by the manufacturers. This observation also applies to existing, written down plant. This is particularly true for smaller units which have been seeing strong competition from larger, more efficient units that can produce volume film grade material at extremely low cost. Thus, in effect what is arguably the most important hot melt adhesive base polymer is slowly transitioning from the status of being made on a capacity available basis to a strategically significant product in the hierarchy of polyolefins.
On the downside, EVA for adhesive applications has become a commodity in the true sense. There is little room for product differentiation, even the long standing preference for autoclave versus tube reactor product has been essentially eliminated. There is a well established market price and the extent to which a supplier can enjoy profitability depends on their ability to keep their customer satisfied with their service, while keeping unit cost as low as possible. This resin classification market report on ethylene Vinyl Acetate (EVA) copolymers estimates 2003 demand with a historical perspective back to 2000 as well as forecasts through 2005 and 2010 within the U.S. Adhesives Industry. |
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| Report Table of Contents |
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Ethylene Vinyl Acetate (EVA) Copolymers (>50% Ethylene) Report - U.S. Adhesives Industry - RAW MATERIAL Market
Market Information - Forecasting Size and Growth Trends
Market Sector Information – Forecasting Size and Growth Trends
Market Segment Information – Forecasting Size and Growth Trends
Formulative Technology Information – Forecasting Size and Growth Trends
Raw Material Suppliers
Growth Opportunities – Size and Growth Trend
Commentary |
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