EAA
ISO E/AA · also Primacor
Ethylene copolymer with acrylic acid comonomer providing excellent adhesion to metals and polar substrates; serves as the acid precursor resin for ionomer production and as a tie-layer/adhesive resin.
Reference datasheet — EAA is not in the instant-quote catalog. Upload your part and an engineer will quote it in this grade or suggest the closest stocked equivalent.
EAA grades and fills
EAA is supplied in 6 conditions, soft to hard.
Compare all 6 grades and fillsHide
| Grade · open for datasheet | Best for | Yield MPa | Tensile MPa | Elong. % | Hardness |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Aqueous dispersion grade | High-acid EAA supplied or converted into a waterborne dispersion for primers, heat-seal coatings and metal/paper barrier coatings. | 6 | 8 | 300 | 42 Shore D |
Ionomer precursor (base acid copolymer for Zn/Na neutralization) | High-acid, controlled-MFR resin sold specifically for downstream metal-ion neutralization into Surlyn-type ionomers. | 8 | 13 | 500 | 43 Shore D |
High-melt-flow extrusion coating grade | For high-line-speed extrusion coating/laminating onto paper, board and foil where neck-in and draw-down control dominate. | 8 | 12 | 450 | 45 Shore D |
Tie-layer / coextrusion adhesive resin | Use as the adhesive layer bonding PE/PP to EVOH, PA or aluminium foil in multilayer film, sheet and pipe. | 10 | 16 | 600 | 46 Shore D |
High acid content | Maximum adhesion to aluminium foil, nylon and EVOH, and the usual base resin for dispersions/ionomers; softer and less heat resistant. | 13 | 650 | 40 Shore D | |
Low acid content | Pick when higher stiffness, higher melting point and better heat resistance matter more than peel strength. | 22 | 500 | 55 Shore D |
Supply forms, finishes and certifications
Ways EAA is supplied — form, process route, surface or paperwork — without a datasheet of their own. The property values above apply.
| Option | What it is | Type |
|---|---|---|
FDA | Food-contact / FDA-compliant grade | Certification |
NATDefault | Unfilled / Natural | Standard supply |
What is EAA?
Ethylene copolymer with acrylic acid comonomer providing excellent adhesion to metals and polar substrates; serves as the acid precursor resin for ionomer production and as a tie-layer/adhesive resin. EAA has a density of 0.94 g/cm³ (0.034 lb/in³), lighter than 76% of polymer grades. Its glass-transition temperature is -25°C (-13 °F). EAA has a yield strength of 10 MPa (1.45 ksi) and a tensile strength of 17 MPa (2.47 ksi) — weaker than 91% of polymer grades. Elongation at break is 550% and the elastic modulus is 0.13 GPa (0.0189 Msi).
What is EAA used for?
- extrusion coating on metal foil
- tie layers in multilayer film
- hot-melt adhesives
- ionomer precursor resin
Advantages
- Readily welded — 92/100, better than 97% of polymer grades
- Ductile — tolerates forming and impact — 550%, better than 92% of polymer grades
- Low embodied carbon — 2.6 kg CO₂/kg, better than 89% of polymer grades
- Conducts heat well — 0.3 W/m·K (0.173 BTU/hr·ft·°F), better than 83% of polymer grades
- Forms and bends easily — 85/100, better than 81% of polymer grades
Limitations
- Low strength — 10 MPa (1.45 ksi), worse than 91% of polymer grades
- Limited service temperature — 60°C (140 °F), worse than 87% of polymer grades
- Difficult to machine — 35/100, worse than 84% of polymer grades
- High mold shrinkage — 2%, worse than 81% of polymer grades
EAA properties
Typical room-temperature values; bars are the position among polymer grades.
Physical7
EAA has a density of 0.94 g/cm³ (0.034 lb/in³), lighter than 76% of polymer grades. Its glass-transition temperature is -25°C (-13 °F).
Mechanical9
EAA has a yield strength of 10 MPa (1.45 ksi) and a tensile strength of 17 MPa (2.47 ksi) — weaker than 91% of polymer grades. Elongation at break is 550% and the elastic modulus is 0.13 GPa (0.0189 Msi).
Thermal10
EAA is rated for continuous service to 60°C (140 °F). It conducts heat at 0.3 W/m·K (0.173 BTU/hr·ft·°F), better than 83% of polymer grades. Thermal expansion is 180 µm/m·K (100 µin/in·°F).
Electrical5
EAA is an electrical insulator with a dielectric strength of 30 kV/mm (762 V/mil) and a resistivity of 1×10¹² Ω·m.
Chemical & Environmental3
Corrosion resistance is very good (80/100), worse than 52% of polymer grades. UV resistance is fair.
Sustainability4
Producing a kilogram of EAA takes about 82 MJ of energy and emits 2.6 kg of CO₂ — less than 83% of polymer grades. Typical recycled content is 0%.
Manufacturability8
EAA's machinability is fair (35/100, worse than 84% of polymer grades); weldability excellent (92/100); formability excellent (85/100).
Common Calculations5
Values are nominal handbook figures for design screening. Certified mill or lot data ships with every FabDigit order on request.
Strength versus weight in the polymer family
Yield strength against density for every polymer grade FabDigit runs. EAA is highlighted; hover a dot for its name, or open the interactive family chart.
Working with EAA
Is EAA easy to machine?
Rarely machined; soft and gummy — use sharp positive-rake tools, high speed/low feed, and cool with air to avoid smearing.
Can EAA be welded?
Excellent heat sealing, hot-plate, impulse and ultrasonic welding; seals initiate at low temperature (~70–90 °C) and it bonds directly to foil and polar films without adhesives.
Can EAA be formed, bent or molded?
Processes on standard PE equipment (blown/cast film, extrusion coating, injection); keep melt <300 °C and purge well — carboxyl groups attack copper/brass tooling and can crosslink on hot spots; drying is generally unnecessary but hygroscopic pickup should be checked before high-temperature coating.
EAA chemical composition (wt %)
Limits by weight percent from the governing specification, written the way the spec states them — a single maximum for impurities, a range for alloying elements, and the base element as balance. Nominal is the typical mid-range value.
| Element | Spec limit (wt %) | Nominal |
|---|---|---|
| acrylic acid (comonomer)acid level sets adhesion, Tm, stiffness | 3 – 20 | 9 |
| antioxidant/process stabilizerhindered phenol/phosphite package | 0.02 – 0.3 | 0.1 |
| slip & antiblock (film grades only)erucamide / silica, optional | 0 – 0.5 | 0 |
| ethylenerandom free-radical high-pressure copolymerization | balance |
What surface finishes work on EAA?
High surface energy gives good printability and ink/adhesive anchorage; corona treatment optional; not paintable in the structural sense and cannot be polished to optical quality.
Equivalent designations
Standards and trade names that resolve to EAA in FabDigit's catalog. Equivalence is nominal — check the exact specification when certification matters.
- ISO
- E/AA
- Trade names
- Primacor
How much does EAA cost?
EAA is a standard-cost polymer ($$), cheaper than about 71% of the materials FabDigit quotes. Part price depends far more on geometry, tolerance and quantity than on the raw stock — upload a CAD file for a live quote.
EAA — frequently asked
What is EAA used for?
EAA is typically used for extrusion coating on metal foil, tie layers in multilayer film, hot-melt adhesives and ionomer precursor resin. In short: bonds directly to foil; low-temperature heat seal; ionomer precursor resin.
What is the yield strength of EAA?
EAA has a typical yield strength of 10 MPa (1.45 ksi) and a tensile strength of 17 MPa (2.47 ksi) — weaker than 91% of polymer grades. Strength varies by condition: see the 6 listed tempers.
Is EAA easy to machine?
Not especially — machinability is rated fair (35/100, worse than 84% of polymer grades). Rarely machined; soft and gummy — use sharp positive-rake tools, high speed/low feed, and cool with air to avoid smearing.
Can EAA be welded?
Yes — weldability is rated excellent (92/100). Excellent heat sealing, hot-plate, impulse and ultrasonic welding; seals initiate at low temperature (~70–90 °C) and it bonds directly to foil and polar films without adhesives.
What surface finishes work on EAA?
High surface energy gives good printability and ink/adhesive anchorage; corona treatment optional; not paintable in the structural sense and cannot be polished to optical quality.
Can EAA be formed, bent or molded?
Processes on standard PE equipment (blown/cast film, extrusion coating, injection); keep melt <300 °C and purge well — carboxyl groups attack copper/brass tooling and can crosslink on hot spots; drying is generally unnecessary but hygroscopic pickup should be checked before high-temperature coating.
What is the maximum service temperature of EAA?
EAA is rated for continuous use to about 60°C (140 °F), and briefly to 90°C. Strength falls off well before that limit — check the elevated-temperature data for load-bearing parts.
How much does EAA cost?
EAA is a standard-cost polymer ($$), cheaper than about 71% of the materials FabDigit quotes. Part price depends far more on geometry, tolerance and quantity than on the raw stock — upload a CAD file for a live quote.
Sources
- PRIMACOR Ethylene-Acrylic Acid Copolymers — product and processing data — Dow / SK Functional Polymer (2022)
- NUCREL Ethylene Acid Copolymer Resins datasheets — DuPont / Dow (2021)
- ESCOR Acid Copolymers — ExxonMobil Chemical (2020)
- ASTM D1238 — Melt Flow Rates of Thermoplastics by Extrusion Plastometer — ASTM (2020)
- ASTM D882 / D638 — Tensile Properties of Thin Plastic Sheeting and Plastics — ASTM (2018)
- Engineered Materials Handbook Vol. 2: Engineering Plastics — ASM International (1988)
- CAMPUS / UL Prospector polyolefin copolymer datasets — CAMPUS / UL (2024)
Property data is compiled from published supplier and standards handbooks and normalised for comparison; hardness values on non-Brinell scales are converted approximately for charting only. Manufacturability limits are FabDigit quote-engine defaults and may be relaxed by engineering review. Nothing on this page is a certification — request mill certs, CoC or material test reports with your order.