The Application of EVOH High-Barrier Film in Multilayer Lamination Technology: Powering a Lightweight Revolution in Sustainable Packaging
The global food, pharmaceutical, and electronics industries are placing increasingly stringent demands on packaging performance—issues such as product spoilage due to insufficient barrier properties, environmental pressure from non-recyclable materials, and low production efficiency in conventional processes are in urgent need of resolution.
Against this backdrop, ethylene-Vinyl Alcohol Copolymer (EVOH) has emerged as a core material in multilayer lamination technology thanks to its exceptional oxygen barrier performance (10,000 times higher than PE), lightweight density (1.14–1.19 g/cm³), and 100% recyclability.
1.EVOH resin’s Core Advantages: Technical Parameters and Global Certifications
1.1 Extreme Barrier Performance
Supporting Data: According to ASTM D3985 standard testing, EVOH polymer achieves an oxygen transmission rate as low as 0.01 cc/m²·day (source: Kuraray Group, 2024 High-Barrier Materials White Paper), significantly outperforming PVDC, PA, and other competing materials.
1.2 Environmental Compliance
EVOH plastic has obtained FDA certification for food-contact materials and complies with ISO 13485 for medical device packaging, meeting global regulatory standards.
1.3 Lightweighting and High-Efficiency Production
EVOH pellets' density is only one-fifth that of metals. When applied in five-layer composite structures such as PP/EVOH/PP, overall film thickness is reduced by 20%–30% while maintaining tensile strength of 150 MPa (ASTM D638), compatible with production speeds up to 120m/min.
Customer Success: A global Top 5 fresh food company (undisclosed) applied a PE/EVOH/PA five-layer composite film for ready-to-eat meals. Shelf life extended from 3 months to 12 months, reducing food waste by 23,000 tons annually and saving over $3 million.
Technical Highlight: Nano-coating technology improves interlayer adhesion, increasing peel strength by 40% (source: Journal of Composite Materials Science and Engineering, 2023).
Medical and Electronic Applications: Ensuring Sterility and Ultra-High Standards
Medical Packaging: PA/EVOH/PP composite films used in vaccine packaging achieve an OTR of <0.05 cc/m²·day, reducing transport breakage rates to 0.1%, and pass rigorous FDA audits.
Electronics Protection: EVOH/carbon fiber composite films for chip transport deliver static decay times <0.1 seconds, far surpassing MIL-STD-883 standards. Clients include Top 3 global semiconductor manufacturers.
2.Solving Key Industry Challenges: Moisture Sensitivity and Process Optimization
2.1 Symmetrical Interlayer Structures
Adopting PP/tie/EVOH/tie/PP designs isolates EVOH material from environmental moisture, reducing moisture absorption by 60%.
2.2 Material Modification Breakthrough
Hydrophobic nano-silica particles (joint study by MIT and DuPont, DOI: 10.1126/sciadv.ado0327) enhance barrier stability by 50%.
2.3 Future Outlook: Technological Innovation and Global Regulatory Alignment
Graphene-Enhanced EVOH: Temperature resistance up to 160°C, suitable for frozen food and high-heat sterilization; commercial production planned for 2025.
AI-Driven Manufacturing: Real-time adjustment of die temperature and cooling rate reduces EVOH layer thickness variation to within ±2%, improving line efficiency by 30%.
Global Environmental Regulatory Response
EU: The PPWR regulation mandates >70% recyclability by 2030. EVOH closed-loop recycling has been adopted by Nestlé, Unilever, and other global brands.
North America: California’s SB54 law requires all packaging to be recyclable or compostable by 2032. Walmart and other retailers have included EVOH in their preferred material lists.
Southeast Asia: Thailand and Vietnam have classified EVOH granules as a mandatory food packaging standard, with domestic demand for import substitution rising rapidly.
From food preservation to medical security, EVOH multilayer composite films are redefining the future of packaging with their triple advantage of high barrier, lightweight design, and sustainability. We are committed to driving the zero-carbon economy through material innovation—ensuring that every layer of film becomes a witness to a greener future.