EEA
A soft, highly flexible ethylene copolymer containing ethyl acrylate comonomer, valued for excellent low-temperature toughness, adhesion, and compatibility as a polyolefin modifier or impact modifier.
Reference datasheet — EEA 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.
EEA grades and fills
EEA 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Crosslinkable foam grade | Select for soft, fine-cell crosslinked foam sheet used in shoe midsoles, gaskets and cushioning where EVA is too stiff. | 2 | 200 | 10 Shore D | |
High melt-index grade | Pick as a color/flame-retardant masterbatch carrier, hot-melt adhesive base or for high filler loading and fast injection moulding. | 4 | 8 | 600 | 30 Shore D |
Low melt-index extrusion grade | Use for blown/cast film, tubing, jacketing and profile extrusion where melt strength and toughness matter. | 6 | 15 | 780 | 34 Shore D |
High-EA grade | Choose for maximum softness, polarity, filler acceptance and adhesion — e.g. highly filled cable compounds and hot-melt adhesives. | 8 | 800 | 22 Shore D | |
Low-EA grade | Pick when more stiffness, higher melting point and better heat resistance are needed while keeping LDPE-like processing. | 9 | 16 | 600 | 43 Shore D |
Halogen-free FR compound | Use for low-smoke zero-halogen cable jackets and sheathing needing UL 94 V-0 and high LOI; stiffness rises and elongation drops sharply. | 9 | 11 | 160 | 48 Shore D |
Supply forms, finishes and certifications
Ways EEA 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 |
UV | UV-stabilized / carbon-black grade | Grade option |
STDDefault | Standard EEA | Standard supply |
What is EEA?
A soft, highly flexible ethylene copolymer containing ethyl acrylate comonomer, valued for excellent low-temperature toughness, adhesion, and compatibility as a polyolefin modifier or impact modifier. EEA has a density of 0.93 g/cm³ (0.0336 lb/in³), lighter than 78% of polymer grades. Its glass-transition temperature is -50°C (-58 °F). EEA has a yield strength of 5 MPa (0.725 ksi) and a tensile strength of 12 MPa (1.74 ksi) — weaker than 95% of polymer grades. Elongation at break is 700% and the elastic modulus is 0.05 GPa (0.0073 Msi).
What is EEA used for?
- Wire and cable jacketing
- Hot melt adhesive formulations
- Impact modifier for polyolefins
- Flexible tubing and film
- Asphalt/bitumen modifier
Advantages
- Forms and bends easily — 95/100, better than 99% of polymer grades
- Ductile — tolerates forming and impact — 700%, better than 96% of polymer grades
- Readily welded — 90/100, better than 94% of polymer grades
- Low embodied carbon — 2.5 kg CO₂/kg, better than 91% of polymer grades
- Low moisture uptake — 0.05%, better than 84% of polymer grades
Limitations
- Difficult to machine — 15/100, worse than 99% of polymer grades
- Low strength — 5 MPa (0.725 ksi), worse than 95% of polymer grades
- Limited service temperature — 65°C (149 °F), worse than 83% of polymer grades
EEA properties
Typical room-temperature values; bars are the position among polymer grades.
Physical5
EEA has a density of 0.93 g/cm³ (0.0336 lb/in³), lighter than 78% of polymer grades. Its glass-transition temperature is -50°C (-58 °F).
Mechanical9
EEA has a yield strength of 5 MPa (0.725 ksi) and a tensile strength of 12 MPa (1.74 ksi) — weaker than 95% of polymer grades. Elongation at break is 700% and the elastic modulus is 0.05 GPa (0.0073 Msi).
Thermal10
EEA is rated for continuous service to 65°C (149 °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 200 µm/m·K (111.1 µin/in·°F).
Electrical5
EEA is an electrical insulator with a dielectric strength of 25 kV/mm (635 V/mil) and a resistivity of 1×10¹³ Ω·m.
Chemical & Environmental3
Corrosion resistance is excellent (88/100), better than 74% of polymer grades. UV resistance is fair.
Sustainability4
Producing a kilogram of EEA takes about 84 MJ of energy and emits 2.5 kg of CO₂ — less than 81% of polymer grades. Typical recycled content is 0%.
Manufacturability7
EEA's machinability is poor (15/100, worse than 99% of polymer grades); weldability excellent (90/100); formability excellent (95/100).
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. EEA is highlighted; hover a dot for its name, or open the interactive family chart.
Working with EEA
Is EEA easy to machine?
Effectively unmachinable — too soft and gummy; use die-cutting, water-jet or cryogenic grinding instead of turning/milling.
Can EEA be welded?
Excellent hot-plate, impulse, hot-air and extrusion welding; also heat-seals to LDPE, EVA and itself at low sealing temperatures.
Can EEA be formed, bent or molded?
Extrudes and injection moulds like LDPE at 150–230 °C melt (never above ~250 °C, where ester groups degrade); needs low mould temperature and generous shrinkage allowance (1–2.5 %).
EEA 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 |
|---|---|---|
| ethyl acrylate (EA comonomer)random comonomer; higher EA = softer, lower Tm/Vicat | 8 – 30 | 18 |
| antioxidant / process stabilizertypical additive package | 0.05 – 0.5 | 0.2 |
| ethylenehigh-pressure free-radical copolymerization, LDPE-like backbone | balance |
What surface finishes work on EEA?
Low surface energy — corona or flame treat before printing/painting; the polar EA groups still give better ink and adhesive bonding than plain PE.
How much does EEA cost?
EEA is a standard-cost polymer ($$), cheaper than about 71% of the materials FabDigit quotes. Part price depends far more on geometry, tolerance and quantity than on the raw stock — upload a CAD file for a live quote.
EEA — frequently asked
What is EEA used for?
EEA is typically used for wire and cable jacketing, hot melt adhesive formulations, impact modifier for polyolefins, flexible tubing and film and asphalt/bitumen modifier. In short: flexible polar polyolefin; tough at low temperature; adhesion-grade PE modifier.
What is the yield strength of EEA?
EEA has a typical yield strength of 5 MPa (0.725 ksi) and a tensile strength of 12 MPa (1.74 ksi) — weaker than 95% of polymer grades. Strength varies by condition: see the 6 listed tempers.
Is EEA easy to machine?
Not especially — machinability is rated poor (15/100, worse than 99% of polymer grades). Effectively unmachinable — too soft and gummy; use die-cutting, water-jet or cryogenic grinding instead of turning/milling.
Can EEA be welded?
Yes — weldability is rated excellent (90/100). Excellent hot-plate, impulse, hot-air and extrusion welding; also heat-seals to LDPE, EVA and itself at low sealing temperatures.
What surface finishes work on EEA?
Low surface energy — corona or flame treat before printing/painting; the polar EA groups still give better ink and adhesive bonding than plain PE.
Can EEA be formed, bent or molded?
Extrudes and injection moulds like LDPE at 150–230 °C melt (never above ~250 °C, where ester groups degrade); needs low mould temperature and generous shrinkage allowance (1–2.5 %).
What is the maximum service temperature of EEA?
EEA is rated for continuous use to about 65°C (149 °F), and briefly to 90°C. Strength falls off well before that limit — check the elevated-temperature data for load-bearing parts.
How much does EEA cost?
EEA is a standard-cost polymer ($$), 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
- Elvaloy AC ethylene acrylate copolymer resins — product and processing data — DuPont / Dow (2020)
- Ethylene acrylate copolymer resin grade slate — ExxonMobil Chemical (2021)
- Engineering Plastics — Ethylene Copolymers — ASM International (Engineered Materials Handbook Vol.2) (1988)
- ASTM D1238 / D638 / D1525 / D2240 test methods — ASTM International (2022)
- CAMPUS / UL Prospector polyolefin copolymer datasets — CAMPUS Plastics / UL (2023)
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.