EMAA
ISO E/MAA · also Nucrel
EMAA is an ethylene-methacrylic acid copolymer (Nucrel) whose carboxyl groups give direct adhesion to aluminum foil, nylon and other polar substrates, combined with high toughness: 10 MPa yield, 30 MPa tensile strength, 420 % elongation, 0.19 GPa modulus and 55 Shore D.
Reference datasheet — EMAA 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.
EMAA grades and fills
EMAA is supplied in 5 conditions, soft to hard.
Compare all 5 grades and fillsHide
| Grade · open for datasheet | Best for | Yield MPa | Tensile MPa | Elong. % | Hardness |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
High melt-flow extrusion-coating / adhesive grade | Use for high-speed extrusion coating of foil and paper, or as hot-melt / powder-coating adhesive base. | 7 | 16 | 300 | 52 Shore D |
High acid content (~11–15% MAA) | Choose for maximum adhesion to aluminium foil, nylon and EVOH, better clarity and low-temperature sealing. | 9 | 33 | 350 | 48 Shore D |
Low acid content | Pick when higher melting point, stiffness and PE-like processing matter more than adhesion strength. | 12 | 25 | 500 | 58 Shore D |
Zinc-neutralized ionomer | Pick when higher clarity, abrasion/puncture resistance and oil-resistant sealing are needed (golf-ball covers, tough packaging skins). | 14 | 34 | 380 | 62 Shore D |
Sodium-neutralized ionomer | Use where highest optical clarity and hot-tack through contamination are wanted; more moisture-sensitive than the Zn type. | 15 | 36 | 350 | 64 Shore D |
Supply forms, finishes and certifications
Ways EMAA 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 / heat-stabilized grade | Grade option |
NATDefault | Unfilled / natural, medium acid | Standard supply |
What is EMAA?
EMAA is an ethylene-methacrylic acid copolymer (Nucrel) whose carboxyl groups give direct adhesion to aluminum foil, nylon and other polar substrates, combined with high toughness: 10 MPa yield, 30 MPa tensile strength, 420 % elongation, 0.19 GPa modulus and 55 Shore D. It is used as an extrusion-coating and tie-layer resin and as the base resin neutralized with zinc or sodium salts to make ionomers, with low- and high-MAA, high-MFR, FDA and UV grades on file. Maximum service temperature is 60 C, so it suits sealing and bonding layers rather than load-bearing parts. Where higher acid functionality is not needed, EVA or maleic-anhydride-grafted polyethylene tie resins are the usual alternatives. EMAA has a density of 0.94 g/cm³ (0.034 lb/in³), lighter than 76% of polymer grades. Its glass-transition temperature is -20°C (-4 °F). EMAA has a yield strength of 10 MPa (1.45 ksi) and a tensile strength of 30 MPa (4.35 ksi) — weaker than 91% of polymer grades. Elongation at break is 400% and the elastic modulus is 0.2 GPa (0.029 Msi).
What is EMAA used for?
- extrusion coating
- adhesive tie layers
- flexible packaging
- ionomer feedstock
- golf ball cover blends
Advantages
- Readily welded — 92/100, better than 97% of polymer grades
- Low embodied carbon — 2.6 kg CO₂/kg, better than 89% of polymer grades
- Ductile — tolerates forming and impact — 400%, better than 86% of polymer grades
- Forms and bends easily — 85/100, better than 81% of polymer grades
- Lightweight — 0.94 g/cm³ (0.034 lb/in³), better than 76% 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 — 30/100, worse than 87% of polymer grades
- High mold shrinkage — 2%, worse than 81% of polymer grades
- Needs corrosion protection — 70/100, worse than 78% of polymer grades
EMAA properties
Typical room-temperature values; bars are the position among polymer grades.
Physical7
EMAA has a density of 0.94 g/cm³ (0.034 lb/in³), lighter than 76% of polymer grades. Its glass-transition temperature is -20°C (-4 °F).
Mechanical8
EMAA has a yield strength of 10 MPa (1.45 ksi) and a tensile strength of 30 MPa (4.35 ksi) — weaker than 91% of polymer grades. Elongation at break is 400% and the elastic modulus is 0.2 GPa (0.029 Msi).
Thermal10
EMAA is rated for continuous service to 60°C (140 °F). It conducts heat at 0.25 W/m·K (0.144 BTU/hr·ft·°F), better than 72% of polymer grades. Thermal expansion is 180 µm/m·K (100 µin/in·°F).
Electrical5
EMAA 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 very good (70/100), worse than 78% of polymer grades. UV resistance is poor.
Sustainability4
Producing a kilogram of EMAA takes about 82 MJ of energy and emits 2.6 kg of CO₂ — less than 83% of polymer grades. Typical recycled content is 0%.
Manufacturability7
EMAA's machinability is poor (30/100, worse than 87% 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. EMAA is highlighted; hover a dot for its name, or open the interactive family chart.
Working with EMAA
Is EMAA easy to machine?
Rarely machined; if needed use sharp positive-rake tools, high speed, low feed and cooling air — the resin is soft and smears.
Can EMAA be welded?
Excellent heat sealing, impulse sealing, hot-plate and ultrasonic welding; seals to itself at 90–120 °C and bonds to foil/nylon without adhesive.
Can EMAA be formed, bent or molded?
Extrudes and blow/cast-films easily at 180–230 °C (extrusion coating up to ~320 °C); keep melt below ~320 °C to avoid acid-induced degradation, use corrosion-resistant (stainless/Hastelloy) screws and dies, dry pellets 3 h at 50–60 °C for high-acid or ionomer grades.
EMAA 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 |
|---|---|---|
| methacrylic acidcarboxyl comonomer providing adhesion; ~30–60 mol% may be neutralized with Zn²⁺/Na⁺ in ionomer variants | 4 – 15 | 9 |
| antioxidant / process stabilizerphenolic/phosphite package | 0 – 0.5 | 0.2 |
| ethylenebackbone comonomer | ≥ 85 (balance) |
What surface finishes work on EMAA?
Corona or flame treat only if printing/laminating a non-acid side; no plating or painting needed — the carboxyl groups themselves act as the primer to metals; avoid alkaline cleaners which saponify the surface.
Equivalent designations
Standards and trade names that resolve to EMAA in FabDigit's catalog. Equivalence is nominal — check the exact specification when certification matters.
- ISO
- E/MAA
- Trade names
- Nucrel
How much does EMAA cost?
EMAA is a premium-cost polymer ($$$), cheaper than about 51% of the materials FabDigit quotes. Part price depends far more on geometry, tolerance and quantity than on the raw stock — upload a CAD file for a live quote.
EMAA — frequently asked
What is EMAA used for?
EMAA is typically used for extrusion coating, adhesive tie layers, flexible packaging, ionomer feedstock and golf ball cover blends. In short: bonds directly to foil; base resin for ionomers; very low seal initiation.
What is the yield strength of EMAA?
EMAA has a typical yield strength of 10 MPa (1.45 ksi) and a tensile strength of 30 MPa (4.35 ksi) — weaker than 91% of polymer grades. Strength varies by condition: see the 5 listed tempers.
Is EMAA easy to machine?
Not especially — machinability is rated poor (30/100, worse than 87% of polymer grades). Rarely machined; if needed use sharp positive-rake tools, high speed, low feed and cooling air — the resin is soft and smears.
Can EMAA be welded?
Yes — weldability is rated excellent (92/100). Excellent heat sealing, impulse sealing, hot-plate and ultrasonic welding; seals to itself at 90–120 °C and bonds to foil/nylon without adhesive.
What surface finishes work on EMAA?
Corona or flame treat only if printing/laminating a non-acid side; no plating or painting needed — the carboxyl groups themselves act as the primer to metals; avoid alkaline cleaners which saponify the surface.
Can EMAA be formed, bent or molded?
Extrudes and blow/cast-films easily at 180–230 °C (extrusion coating up to ~320 °C); keep melt below ~320 °C to avoid acid-induced degradation, use corrosion-resistant (stainless/Hastelloy) screws and dies, dry pellets 3 h at 50–60 °C for high-acid or ionomer grades.
What is the maximum service temperature of EMAA?
EMAA is rated for continuous use to about 60°C (140 °F), and briefly to 80°C. Strength falls off well before that limit — check the elevated-temperature data for load-bearing parts.
How much does EMAA cost?
EMAA is a premium-cost polymer ($$$), cheaper than about 51% 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
- Nucrel™ ethylene acid copolymer resins — product data — Dow (formerly DuPont Packaging & Industrial Polymers) (2023)
- Escor™ acid copolymers technical data — ExxonMobil Chemical (2022)
- Surlyn™ ionomer resins property guide — Dow (2023)
- Engineered Materials Handbook Vol.2: Engineering Plastics — ASM International (1988)
- ASTM D1238 — Melt Flow Rates of Thermoplastics by Extrusion Plastometer — ASTM (2020)
- ASTM D638 / D882 / D1525 / D2240 — ASTM (2022)
- CAMPUS / UL Prospector ethylene acid copolymer entries — CAMPUS, UL Solutions (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.