Ethylene Vinyl Alcohol
Identifiers
Hazards
Where is ethylene vinyl alcohol used, and what role does it play in each application?
Ethylene vinyl alcohol is used as a barrier polymer in composite materials, a thermoplastic resin in battery binders, and a component in thermoplastic resin compositions and processing aids. In cable protection pipes, it is incorporated at 3–8 wt% to improve barrier performance within a composite melt. In battery binders, it serves as a base thermoplastic resin that is modified with functional monomers to achieve NMP solubility. It also appears in resin compositions with polylactic acid to control dispersed particle size and in processing aids with lubricants.
Which product or formulation problem does ethylene vinyl alcohol address?
Ethylene vinyl alcohol addresses formulation challenges requiring barrier properties, thermoplastic processability, and compatibility in multi-component systems. In cable protection pipes, it contributes to a composite melt that is extruded and coated onto steel strips, solving the need for a durable, protective layer. In battery binders, it provides a thermoplastic resin backbone that can be chemically modified to dissolve in NMP at low temperatures, enabling flexible binder formulations. It also helps achieve specific dispersed particle sizes in resin blends, improving processability and performance.
What supports the main commercial or clinical uses of ethylene vinyl alcohol?
The main commercial uses are supported by patent applications that describe specific formulations and processing methods. One patent details a cable protection pipe where ethylene vinyl alcohol is mixed with polypropylene and other additives, then extruded and coated onto a steel strip. Another patent claims a flexible battery binder using ethylene vinyl alcohol as a thermoplastic resin that is polymerized with functional monomers. Additional patents show its use in thermoplastic resin compositions and processing aids, often blended with polylactic acid. These filings indicate active development, but they do not confirm market adoption or regulatory approval.
How is Ethylene vinyl alcohol used clinically?
/SRP: Former use/ ... For analgesia, few inhalations of 25-35% mixture with oxygen. For induction of anesthesia, 80-90% concentration of ethylene with 10-20% oxygen ... . However, 90% concentration ... should be given for no longer than 2-3 min. Patients usually can be maintained on mixture of 80% ethylene and 20% oxygen. If satisfactory anesthesia cannot be attained with ethylene, gas must be supplemented with barbiturate, strong analgesic, or other anesthetic vapor (eg, ether, halothane)
Which formulation trade-offs should researchers consider for ethylene vinyl alcohol?
Researchers should consider trade-offs in processing temperature, compatibility, and concentration. In cable protection pipes, the extrusion process requires specific temperature zones (165–215°C) and vacuum devolatilization, indicating that ethylene vinyl alcohol must be processed within a narrow thermal window to avoid degradation. Its concentration is limited to 3–8 wt% in that application, suggesting higher levels may compromise mechanical properties or processability. In battery binders, it must be modified to achieve NMP solubility, implying that unmodified resin may not meet solubility requirements. Blending with other resins like polylactic acid can adjust dispersed particle size, but may affect overall performance.
What are the physicochemical properties of Ethylene vinyl alcohol?
| Property | Value | Category |
|---|---|---|
| Physical Description | Ethylene appears as a colorless gas with a sweet odor and taste. It is lighter than air. It is easily ignited and a flame can easily flash back to the source of the leak. Under prolonged exposure to fire or heat the containers may rupture violently and rocket. Can cause explosion, Ethylene, refrigerated liquid (cryogenic liquid) appears as a pressurized liquid when shipped below 50 °F. Colorless with a sweet odor and taste. Vapors arising from the boiling liquid are lighter than air. Easily ignited. Not toxic but is a simple asphyxiant. Under prolonged exposure to fire or intense heat the containers may rupture violently and rocket. Used as an anesthetic, a refrigerant, and to make other chemicals, Gas Vapor; Gas Vapor; Liquid; Liquid, Colorless gas with a faint sweet odor; [Merck Index] Vapor density = 0.978 (lighter than air), Liquid, COLOURLESS COMPRESSED GAS WITH CHARACTERISTIC ODOUR, Colorless gas with a sweet odor | Appearance |
| Color/Form | Colorless gas | Appearance |
| Odor | Sweet, Olefinic, hedonic tone: unpleasant to neutral | Appearance |
| Taste | Tasteless, Sweet | Appearance |
| Solubility | In water, 131 mg/L at 25 °C, Slightly soluble in water, 1 volume dissolves in about 4 volumes water at 0 °C, in about 9 volumes water at 25 °C, in about 0.5 volumes alcohol at 25 °C, in about 0.05 volumes ether at 15.5 °C, Very soluble in ethanol, ether; soluble in acetone acid, benzene, Soluble in acetone, benzene, 0.131 mg/mL at 25 °C, Solubility in water, mg/l at 25 °C: 131 (very slightly soluble) | Formulation Relevant Properties |
| LogP | log Kow = 1.13, 1.13 | Formulation Relevant Properties |
| Boiling Point | -154.7 °F at 760 mmHg, -103.8 °C, BP: -102.4 °C at 700 mm Hg, -104 °C, -154.7 °F, -103.77 °C @760 [mm Hg] | Handling Relevant Properties |
| Melting Point | -272.4 °F, -169.18 °C, -169 °C, -169.2 °C, -169.15 °C | Handling Relevant Properties |
| Flash Point | -213 °F (approx.), -213 °F, -100 °C (-148 °F) - closed cup, Flammable gas, -213 °F (approx) | Handling Relevant Properties |
| Density | 0.569 at -154.84 °F - Less dense than water; will float, Density: 50.5678 g/cu cm at -104 °C, 0.569 at -154.84 °F, 0.568 @ -104°C | Handling Relevant Properties |
Which formulation benchmark best contextualizes ethylene vinyl alcohol, and what differs?
A useful benchmark is the thermoplastic resin composition described in patent CN122477248A, where ethylene vinyl alcohol is used as resin (A) with a dispersed particle size of 1–100 μm, blended with polylactic acid. This differs from other applications because it emphasizes particle size control for processability rather than barrier or binder functionality. In contrast, the cable protection pipe uses it as a secondary barrier component, and the battery binder uses it as a primary resin that is chemically modified. This benchmark highlights the versatility of ethylene vinyl alcohol but also shows that its role and required properties vary significantly by application.