EVOH + Nylon Co-Extruded Film: The Golden Track of High-Barrier Packaging
Driven by both consumption upgrades and environmental policies, high-barrier packaging materials are experiencing explosive growth. EVOH (ethylene-vinyl alcohol copolymer), known for its exceptional oxygen barrier properties, is revolutionizing industries such as food, pharmaceuticals, and new energy when co-extruded with nylon. As a core supplier of EVOH resin, we stay at the forefront of the industry, analyzing the innovative applications and future opportunities of EVOH polymer in nylon co-extruded films.
Technological Advancements: Three Key Breakthroughs in EVOH + Nylon Co-Extruded Films
（1）Ultra-Thin and High-Performance Coexistence
At the 2023 K Show in Germany, Battenfeld introduced a new generation of co-extrusion equipment capable of achieving an EVOH barrier layer thickness of ≤2.5μm while maintaining an oxygen transmission rate (OTR) of <1.5cc/m²·day. This innovation reduces weight by 30% compared to traditional aluminum foil films while cutting overall costs by 18%.
（2）Commercialization of Bio-Based EVOH
Leading industry players such as Japan's Kuraray have launched bio-based EVOH resin with a biomass content of ≥30%, compatible with nylon co-extrusion processes. This innovation reduces carbon footprint by 22%, complies with FDA and EU food contact material regulations, and positions itself as a frontrunner in the sustainable packaging sector.
（3）Intelligent Process Innovation
AI-driven online defect detection systems, such as the MAG IML technology, have successfully controlled EVOH layer uniformity deviation within ±0.8%, increasing the yield rate to 98.5%. This breakthrough addresses critical challenges in multi-layer co-extrusion film production.
Market Boom: Four Sectors Driving a Billion-Dollar Demand
（1）Food Packaging: Benefiting from the Ready-to-Eat and Cold Chain Boom
In 2023, China’s ready-to-eat food packaging market surpassed ¥120 billion. EVOH nylon co-extruded films, with their superior puncture resistance, low-temperature durability (-40°C), and high oxygen barrier properties, have become the preferred solution for premium ingredients such as salmon and freshly stewed bird’s nest, extending shelf life by over 50%.
（2）Pharmaceutical Packaging: New Standards Driving Material Substitution
With the enforcement of China’s 2024 mandatory pharmaceutical blister packaging standards, requiring an oxygen transmission rate of <5cc/m²·day, traditional PVC materials face elimination. EVOH co-extruded films, with their advantages of high-temperature sterilization and transparency, are rapidly penetrating the market, which is expected to grow at an annual rate of 26% over the next three years.
（3）New Energy: Domestic Production of Aluminum-Plastic Films for Pouch Batteries
China’s localization rate for lithium battery aluminum-plastic films is below 20%. EVOH barrier layers combined with weather-resistant nylon layers—such as those already in mass production by Zijiang New Materials—are breaking the technological monopoly of Japan and South Korea, reducing per-square-meter costs by 40% and meeting the demand of the TWh-scale power battery era.
（4）Sustainable Packaging: Breakthroughs in Recyclable Design
The EU’s Single-Use Plastics (SUP) Directive mandates that all plastic packaging must be 100% recyclable by 2030. EVOH/nylon co-extruded films have achieved physical recyclability through "molecular structure optimization + sorting technology." Dow Chemical’s RecycleReady technology has received third-party certification, opening doors to the European high-end market.
The “golden combination” of EVOH plastic and nylon is redefining the boundaries of high-barrier packaging. As a leading supplier of EVOH pellets, we embrace both technological evolution and market expansion, empowering our customers to seize new opportunities in this rapidly growing industry.
