Plastic films have become integral in various industries, ranging from  packaging to building infrastructure, owing to their ability to flexibly provide barrier properties and optical clarity. Depending on the application each film is used in, the selection of resins and additives plays an important part in modifying properties that maximize film performance in terms of toughness, durability, and transparency. Westlake’s ethylene methyl acrylate copolymers (EMAC^®) and ethylene butyl acrylate copolymers (EBAC^®) are ideal resins and compounding additives for films made in the United States.
 

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Film Resins for Photovoltaics

Westlake’s EBAC^® can be used in blown and cast film applications, with processing temperatures of up to 175°C for blown film and 235°C for cast film. These resins can be used with standard LDPE processing equipment, producing blown films with thicknesses between 0.5 and 15 mils and cast films between 0.5 and 25 mils. Grades such as EBAC^® SP2811 create films that maximize light transmittance, providing an excellent option for encapsulation films used in photovoltaic assemblies. The data below shows excellent transmittance of EBAC^® SP2811 across a broad spectrum of visible light.
 

EBAC^® SP2811 is engineered with minimal residual acid, which helps prevent photovoltaic module degradation. Films are also heat sealable at low temperatures, providing better workability.
 

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Packaging Film Compounding Additives

EMAC^® is an ideal additive to blend with LDPE to improve puncture and tear resistance. As such, it can be used to improve the durability of food packaging films to increase dart impact and puncture strength. EMAC^® SP2260 was blended with standard 2.0 melt index (MI) autoclave LDPE at different rates. The results below indicate a significant increase in dart impact strength correlating with the amount of EMAC^® SP2260 added and a maximum increase in puncture energy observed at a 40%–60% blend of EMAC^® SP2260 and LDPE.
 

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Adhesive Layers

In packaging and construction end markets, films are commonly laminated to combine the properties and benefits of different types of film polymers into a single structure. EMAC^®  serves as an excellent adhesive, heat-seal, and tie-layer resin that creates strong bonds between dissimilar types of plastic, such as PET to PP and PE. Below, EMAC^® SP2207 and EMAC+^® SP1307 were extrusion coated on PET and evaluated for peel strength.
 

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EMAC^® and EBAC^® Grades for Films

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Summary

Westlake’s EMAC^® and EBAC^® products are ethylene butyl acrylate and ethylene methyl acrylate copolymers that create high-quality films and laminates. Made in the United States, they have been consistently used as film resins and additives that maximize the durability, toughness, and optical clarity of films. This makes them ideal choices for packaging films and photovoltaic films and may also be used as adhesive tie-layer resins. They are also excellent choices as resins that help bond different films together. Click below to request a sample of EMAC^® or EBAC^® today.