EVOH
also EVAL, Soarnol
EVOH is a semi-crystalline ethylene-vinyl alcohol copolymer (EVAL from Kuraray, Soarnol from Nippon Gohsei) used as a high-barrier resin rather than a structural plastic, with 1.19 g/cm3 density, 68 MPa tensile strength, 230 % elongation, 2.9 GPa modulus and a 69 C glass transition.
Reference datasheet — EVOH 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.
Values for the E32 condition
EVOH grades and fills
EVOH is supplied in 11 conditions, soft to hard. E32 is the default FabDigit quotes; the values on this page are for it.
Compare all 11 grades and fillsHide
| Grade · open for datasheet | Best for | Yield MPa | Tensile MPa | Elong. % | Hardness |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Flex-crack / pinhole-resistant grade | For pouches, bag-in-box and vacuum packs that are repeatedly flexed — modified for Gelbo flex durability. | 38 | 50 | 350 | 66 Shore D |
48 mol% ethylene | Pick for very low-temperature coextrusion, flexible pouches and blend/masterbatch use where barrier demand is modest. | 40 | 48 | 330 | 67 Shore D |
44 mol% ethylene | Best choice for biaxially oriented, shrink and stretch films, and for coex with LDPE at low temperature. | 44 | 55 | 300 | 70 Shore D |
38 mol% ethylene | Use for deep-draw thermoforming, blow-moulded bottles and structures that must tolerate humidity. | 50 | 60 | 250 | 74 Shore D |
Retort-resistant grade | Use in packages sterilised at 121–135 °C: recovers barrier quickly after steam retort and resists moisture-induced haze. | 52 | 62 | 250 | 76 Shore D |
Blow-moulding / high-viscosity grade | Low-MFR grade with high melt strength for coex bottles, cosmetic containers and large drums. | 55 | 65 | 250 | 78 Shore D |
Injection-moulding grade | High-MFR grade for coinjected preforms/containers and rigid barrier parts. | 55 | 60 | 120 | 79 Shore D |
E32Default 32 mol% ethylene | Default workhorse: best balance of oxygen barrier, processability and cost for film, sheet and bottle coex layers. | 58 | 68 | 230 | 78 Shore D |
Fuel-barrier / lamellar blend grade | Grades qualified for HDPE fuel tanks and fuel lines — either as a coex layer or dispersed as lamellae in HDPE. | 58 | 70 | 200 | 80 Shore D |
27–29 mol% ethylene | Higher barrier than the 32 mol% standard, still coextrudable with PP at normal temperatures. | 62 | 72 | 180 | 80 Shore D |
24 mol% ethylene | Choose when the lowest possible oxygen transmission is required and the structure stays dry and rigid. | 65 | 75 | 150 | 82 Shore D |
Supply forms, finishes and certifications
Ways EVOH 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 & EU 10/2011 compliant grade | Certification |
What is EVOH?
EVOH is a semi-crystalline ethylene-vinyl alcohol copolymer (EVAL from Kuraray, Soarnol from Nippon Gohsei) used as a high-barrier resin rather than a structural plastic, with 1.19 g/cm3 density, 68 MPa tensile strength, 230 % elongation, 2.9 GPa modulus and a 69 C glass transition. Engineers specify it as a thin core layer in coextruded film, sheet, blow-molded bottles and fuel tanks for its oxygen and aroma barrier; grades E24 to E48 trade barrier for flexibility and processability as ethylene content rises. Barrier performance falls as the layer absorbs moisture, so EVOH must be buried between polyolefin or polyamide skins with tie layers. Where moisture exposure or cost rules it out, metallized film or PVDC coatings are the alternatives. EVOH has a density of 1.19 g/cm³ (0.043 lb/in³), heavier than 53% of polymer grades. Its glass-transition temperature is 69°C (156 °F). EVOH has a yield strength of 58 MPa (8.41 ksi) and a tensile strength of 68 MPa (9.86 ksi) — stronger than 66% of polymer grades. Elongation at break is 230% and the elastic modulus is 2.9 GPa (0.421 Msi).
What is EVOH used for?
- multilayer food packaging film
- barrier bottles
- co-extruded pouches
- fuel tank barrier layers
- medical packaging
Advantages
- Conducts heat well — 0.33 W/m·K (0.191 BTU/hr·ft·°F), better than 89% of polymer grades
- Ductile — tolerates forming and impact — 230%, better than 77% of polymer grades
Limitations
- Absorbs moisture — dry before molding — 5.5%, worse than 99% of polymer grades
- Needs corrosion protection — 70/100, worse than 78% of polymer grades
EVOH properties
Typical room-temperature values for EVOH-E32; bars are the position among polymer grades.
Physical7
EVOH has a density of 1.19 g/cm³ (0.043 lb/in³), heavier than 53% of polymer grades. Its glass-transition temperature is 69°C (156 °F).
Mechanical14
EVOH has a yield strength of 58 MPa (8.41 ksi) and a tensile strength of 68 MPa (9.86 ksi) — stronger than 66% of polymer grades. Elongation at break is 230% and the elastic modulus is 2.9 GPa (0.421 Msi).
Thermal11
EVOH is rated for continuous service to 90°C (194 °F). It conducts heat at 0.33 W/m·K (0.191 BTU/hr·ft·°F), better than 89% of polymer grades. Thermal expansion is 85 µm/m·K (47.2 µin/in·°F).
Electrical3
EVOH has an electrical resistivity of 1×10¹¹ Ω·m.
Chemical & Environmental3
Corrosion resistance is very good (70/100), worse than 78% of polymer grades. UV resistance is fair.
Sustainability4
Producing a kilogram of EVOH takes about 90 MJ of energy and emits 4.2 kg of CO₂ — less than 75% of polymer grades. Typical recycled content is 0%.
Manufacturability8
EVOH's machinability is good (55/100, worse than 64% of polymer grades); weldability good (55/100); formability very good (70/100).
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. EVOH is highlighted; hover a dot for its name, or open the interactive family chart.
Working with EVOH
Is EVOH easy to machine?
Rarely machined; if a thick coex sheet must be trimmed, use sharp tools and low heat — the resin is notch sensitive when dry and picks up moisture from coolant.
Can EVOH be welded?
Heat-seals and welds readily to itself but not to polyolefins; always use maleic-anhydride-grafted tie layers in coex structures.
Can EVOH be formed, bent or molded?
Dry to <0.1% moisture, extrude at 190–230 °C with streamlined, dead-spot-free flow paths and short residence time to avoid gels and cross-linking; purge with LDPE/EVA at shutdown.
EVOH 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 |
|---|---|---|
| ethylenemol% of copolymer; grade designation is the ethylene mole fraction | 24 – 48 | 32 |
| residual vinyl acetatesaponification degree normally >99% | 0 – 0.5 | 0.2 |
| stabilizers / lubricantsantioxidant, acid scavenger, boron compounds for gel control | 0 – 1 | 0.3 |
| vinyl alcoholmol%; formed by full saponification of vinyl acetate units | ≥ 52 (balance) |
What surface finishes work on EVOH?
Buried as an internal layer, so no surface finishing; surface EVOH would need corona treatment for printing and must be protected from liquid water.
Equivalent designations
Standards and trade names that resolve to EVOH in FabDigit's catalog. Equivalence is nominal — check the exact specification when certification matters.
- Trade names
- EVALSoarnol
How much does EVOH cost?
EVOH 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.
EVOH — frequently asked
What is EVOH used for?
EVOH is typically used for multilayer food packaging film, barrier bottles, co-extruded pouches, fuel tank barrier layers and medical packaging. In short: highest oxygen barrier polymer; coextrusion core layer only; barrier lost when wet.
What is the yield strength of EVOH?
EVOH has a typical yield strength of 58 MPa (8.41 ksi) and a tensile strength of 68 MPa (9.86 ksi) — stronger than 66% of polymer grades. Strength varies by condition: see the 11 listed tempers.
Is EVOH easy to machine?
Reasonably — machinability is rated good (55/100, worse than 64% of polymer grades). Rarely machined; if a thick coex sheet must be trimmed, use sharp tools and low heat — the resin is notch sensitive when dry and picks up moisture from coolant.
Can EVOH be welded?
Yes — weldability is rated good (55/100). Heat-seals and welds readily to itself but not to polyolefins; always use maleic-anhydride-grafted tie layers in coex structures.
What surface finishes work on EVOH?
Buried as an internal layer, so no surface finishing; surface EVOH would need corona treatment for printing and must be protected from liquid water.
Can EVOH be formed, bent or molded?
Dry to <0.1% moisture, extrude at 190–230 °C with streamlined, dead-spot-free flow paths and short residence time to avoid gels and cross-linking; purge with LDPE/EVA at shutdown.
What is the maximum service temperature of EVOH?
EVOH is rated for continuous use to about 90°C (194 °F), and briefly to 130°C. Strength falls off well before that limit — check the elevated-temperature data for load-bearing parts.
What is the difference between EVOH E32 and EVOH Flex?
E32 is the default condition — default workhorse: best balance of oxygen barrier, processability and cost for film, sheet and bottle coex layers. Flex: for pouches, bag-in-box and vacuum packs that are repeatedly flexed — modified for Gelbo flex durability. Yield strength is 58 MPa in E32 versus 38 MPa in Flex.
How much does EVOH cost?
EVOH 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
- EVAL EVOH resin grade data and processing guide — Kuraray (EVAL Europe / EVAL Americas) (2023)
- Soarnol EVOH technical data sheets — Mitsubishi Chemical (Nippon Gohsei) (2022)
- Handbook of Plastic Films / Barrier Polymers and Structures — ACS / Rapra (2010)
- EVOH (2026)
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.