EVA supplier: film, foam and hot-melt grades by VA content
Soft, flexible and tough at low temperatures, EVA copolymer bridges the gap between polyethylene and rubber. We source a range of VA contents for film, molding and compounding.
One gaylord to a railcar · A polymer chemist reviews every quote · Every prime lot from our suppliers ships with a COA
Updated October 2026
Request a Quote- Impact strength
- Excellent, including cold temps
- Heat (HDT)
- Low (~40-60°C, low-VA grades)
- Clarity
- Good in film
At a glance
- Form
- Pellets
- Order size
- One gaylord to a railcar
- Grades
- Low-VA (film and molding) · Mid-VA flexible grades · High-VA elastomeric grades · Foaming grades
- Paperwork
- Supplier COA on every prime lot
- Ships to
- U.S. and Canada
- Sourcing
- Matched to your spec
The short answer
EVA is the pick when you need polyethylene-type processing with more softness, cold toughness, clarity, cling or adhesion. Vinyl acetate (VA) content and melt index are the two numbers that define a grade, and matching both matters more than anything else. The thing that most often goes wrong is overheating: too much heat or residence time breaks down the VA and releases acetic acid, which smells, corrodes steel and causes gels. Higher-VA grades break down at lower temperatures.
Grades we source
Tap a grade to add it to your quote request.
About EVA
Ethylene-vinyl acetate copolymers get softer, clearer and more rubber-like as vinyl acetate content rises. Low-VA grades behave like tough, flexible PE; higher-VA grades approach elastomers, ideal for foamed midsoles, films, adhesives and impact modification.
EVA by vinyl acetate content
| ~2–9% VA | Film: toughness, clarity, cling and sealing |
|---|---|
| ~9–20% VA | Flexible molding, tubing, heat-seal layers |
| ~4% VA and up | Foams (footwear midsoles often ~18–22%, some shoe foam grades up to ~28%) |
| ~18–40% VA | Hot-melt adhesives and sealants (often ~28%) |
| ~25–33% VA | Encapsulant films, wire and cable compounds |
| Higher VA | Softer, more rubber-like, lower melting, better adhesion |
Ranges are typical; tell us the VA % and melt index on your spec and we’ll match both.
Common applications
- Foamed footwear and padding
- Stretch and cling films
- Hot-melt adhesive base
- Tubing and soft parts
- Impact modification of other resins
Typical properties
| Impact strength | Excellent, including cold temps |
|---|---|
| Heat (HDT) | Low (~40-60°C, low-VA grades) |
| Clarity | Good in film |
| Chemical resistance | Good |
| Relative cost | Low-moderate |
Property ranges are general guidance and vary by grade and supplier; a polymer chemist confirms the exact spec against the data sheet and certificate of analysis for your application.
Which grade to ask for
Pick the grade by end use first, then match VA content and melt index to the grade you run now.
| Grade type | Use it for | Watch out for |
|---|---|---|
| Low-VA film grades | Blown and cast film, sealant layers, stretch and cling film | Slip and antiblock levels vary between grades and change how film handles on the winder |
| Mid-VA molding and extrusion grades | Flexible molded parts, tubing and soft profiles | Parts stick in the mold more as VA rises. Mold release and a cooler tool help |
| Foaming grades | Crosslinked foam for footwear midsoles, padding and sheet | The foam formula (crosslinker, blowing agent, filler) is tuned to the base grade. A melt index change shifts foam density |
| High-VA, high-melt-index grades | Hot-melt adhesives and sealants | Melt index can run into the hundreds of g/10 min. Small differences change open time and set speed |
| Wire and cable or encapsulant grades | Filled cable compounds and encapsulant film | Usually need a defined stabilizer package and low gel count. Confirm both on the data sheet |
| Food-contact grades | Food packaging film, closure liners and tubing | Compliance is grade-specific. Ask for the producer’s FDA letter for the exact grade |
Typical starting points. Grades vary, so confirm on the data sheet for the exact grade.
Buying to a spec? See EVA by vinyl acetate content.
Processing notes
- Drying. No drying needed for most grades. EVA picks up little water. If pellets have condensation on them, warm them only gently, since high-VA pellets soften and stick together.
- Melt temperature. Most EVA runs at about 160–220°C / 320–428°F. The upper limit depends on VA content: some high-VA grades list about 200–220°C / 392–428°F as the ceiling, while low-VA film grades tolerate more. Use the limit on the grade sheet and keep residence short. Higher-VA grades want the lower end of the range.
- Mold temperature. A cool tool, about 20–40°C / 68–104°F, sets soft parts faster and reduces sticking.
- Shrinkage. Higher than most rigid resins and it changes with VA content. Take the value from the grade sheet, and measure parts after 24 hours or more.
- Regrind and trim. Clean same-grade regrind and film edge trim usually go back in without trouble. Degraded or overheated material shows up as gels and odor.
- Most common defect. Thermal breakdown. Acetic acid smell at the press, gels or black specks, and corrosion on screws and dies all point to too much heat or time. Purge with LDPE before shutdown and do not leave EVA sitting hot in the barrel. See gels and fisheyes.
What to put on the purchase order
- VA content, in percent, with the tolerance you can accept.
- Melt index with the test condition (usually 190°C / 374°F, 2.16 kg) and a range, not just a typical value.
- Additive package: slip, antiblock and antioxidant for film; none at all for some adhesive and compounding uses.
- Pellet handling: high-VA grades are often dusted to stop blocking. Say if dusting would contaminate your process.
- Food contact: the producer’s FDA letter for the exact grade, if the part or film touches food.
- Storage: high-VA pellets can block in a hot warehouse. Plan for cool storage and first-in, first-out use.
- COA values to check: VA content, melt index and, for film, gel count if the grade lists it.
When to consider something else
- If you need low seal temperature and toughness without VA odor, look at metallocene polyethylene.
- If you only need general film toughness at lower cost, look at LDPE film grades or LLDPE.
- If you need a molded soft part with better heat and compression set, look at TPE / TPV.
- If you are matching an EVA for a hot melt or sealant, see adhesives and sealants.
Common questions
What does VA content mean in EVA?
VA content is the percentage of vinyl acetate in the copolymer. As it rises, EVA becomes softer, clearer, more flexible and more adhesive, and its melting point drops. Low-VA grades behave like tough polyethylene and high-VA grades behave more like rubber.
Does EVA need to be dried?
Usually not. EVA absorbs little water, so most grades run as received. If pellets are wet from condensation, dry them gently at low temperature, because high-VA pellets stick together when warm.
Is EVA food safe?
Some EVA grades are made for food-contact use, but it depends on the exact grade and its additives. Ask for the producer’s FDA letter for that grade. Do not assume a grade is compliant because another grade in the family is.
Is PEVA the same as EVA?
PEVA is a consumer term for the same polymer, polyethylene vinyl acetate, often used for shower curtains and liners. For buying resin, ask for EVA by VA content and melt index.
Related
Tell us the EVA grade you run now
A polymer chemist reviews every request, then matches your grade or finds a qualified equivalent and prices it.
What to send for an accurate quote
- The grade name, from any supplier, or a data sheet
- Color (natural, black or a custom match)
- The process (blown film, cast film, molding)
- Melt flow, if you know it
- Quantity for this order and what you use in a year
- Ship-to city and state or province
Quotes on EVA by VA content
Send the VA content, melt index and end use, and a polymer chemist returns a matched EVA grade and a quote.
Request a QuoteNot sure which grade to ask for?
Send the grade you run now, or describe the part. A polymer chemist reviews every request.