EVA, VAE and VAE emulsion share the same core chemical composition; the differences lie in naming conventions and product forms. EVA is the internationally recognized general term covering all ethylene-vinyl acetate copolymers, regardless of vinyl acetate (VA) content. VAE is a term commonly used in China to specifically refer to copolymers with high VA content (70%–95%), which typically exist in emulsion form. VAE emulsion represents the most prevalent commercial form of VAE, consisting of a dispersion of this copolymer in water. In short: VAE emulsion is the primary form of VAE products, while VAE itself is a specific type of EVA characterized by high VA content.
EVA (Ethylene-Vinyl Acetate Copolymer)
EVA is the general term for polymer materials produced through the copolymerization of ethylene and vinyl acetate (VA). EVA takes on different forms depending on its VA content: when the VA content is below 40%, it typically appears as a solid resin, which can be processed into products such as films, footwear materials, and hot-melt adhesives; when the VA content ranges from 70% to 95%, it exists as an emulsion. EVA resin offers excellent flexibility, low-temperature resistance (with a brittleness temperature usually below -50°C), transparency, and aging resistance, making it widely used in applications such as foamed footwear materials, photovoltaic encapsulant films, wire and cable insulation, and packaging films.
VAE (Vinyl Acetate-Ethylene Copolymer)
VAE is a specific category within the broader EVA family, characterized by high VA content (typically 70%–95%). Due to this high VA content, VAE can form a stable aqueous dispersion (i.e., an emulsion) at room temperature, appearing milky white or slightly yellowish. In China, these high-VA ethylene-vinyl acetate copolymers are commonly referred to as VAE, whereas the solid forms with low VA content are customarily called EVA resin. While their chemical compositions are essentially identical, they differ in product form and application areas due to the variation in VA content.
VAE Emulsion (Vinyl Acetate-Ethylene Copolymer Emulsion)
VAE emulsion is an aqueous polymer dispersion produced via emulsion polymerization using vinyl acetate and ethylene as the primary raw materials; it is also simply referred to as VAE. It represents the most typical commercial form of VAE products and appears as a milky white, viscous liquid. Due to the incorporation of ethylene into its molecular chains, VAE emulsion exhibits permanent flexibility (resulting from internal plasticization, with no risk of plasticizer migration) as well as good resistance to acids, alkalis, and UV-induced aging. It typically has a minimum film-forming temperature below 5°C and demonstrates excellent adhesion to a wide range of materials, including fibers, wood, paper, plastics, and cement. It is primarily used in applications such as adhesives, architectural coatings, cement modifiers, paper coatings, and non-woven fabrics.
