1. Ethylene Segments: Laying the Foundation for Performance
As the primary component of the backbone, ethylene provides EMAA polymer with numerous fundamental advantages. Its non-polar molecular structure imparts excellent water resistance, making it impermeable to water molecules and effectively protecting it from humid environments. Furthermore, the ethylene segments impart exceptional flexibility, allowing EMAA resin to maintain excellent deformation capacity in diverse environments and resist brittle cracking. Furthermore, it exhibits strong resistance to a wide range of chemicals, from oils and fats to common acidic and alkaline solutions, ensuring the stability of the product in complex chemical environments.
2. Methacrylic Acid Groups: Imparting Key Properties
The introduction of methacrylic acid is key to the exceptional performance of EMAA resin. Its polar groups significantly enhance the resin’s adhesion to polar substrates such as metal foil (such as aluminum foil), nylon, and paper. For example, in aluminum foil lamination, EMAA forms a strong bond with the foil, resulting in high peel strength and ensuring the structural integrity of the composite product. Methacrylic acid also enhances the material’s toughness, allowing the product to effectively absorb energy and prevent cracking when subjected to external impact. Furthermore, it imparts EMAA with hot-tack strength, enabling it to quickly and tightly bond to other materials when heated. It also possesses low-temperature heat-sealing properties, enabling sealing at relatively low temperatures, reducing energy consumption and production time.
The price of EMAA resin is influenced by a variety of factors, exhibiting a certain degree of volatility. Raw material costs are a key factor influencing prices. Price fluctuations in ethylene and methacrylic acid, the primary raw materials for EMAA production, are directly transmitted to the EMAA resin market. When international crude oil prices fluctuate significantly, fluctuations in the price of crude oil, an upstream raw material for ethylene, can lead to changes in ethylene production costs, which in turn impact EMAA prices. For example, during periods of rising crude oil prices, ethylene supply costs increase, often leading to a corresponding rise in EMAA prices.
In addition, EMAA prices vary significantly across different models, specifications, and application areas. However, from an overall market perspective, EMAA prices are slightly lower than similar products such as ethylene-acrylic acid copolymer (EAA), with an average price difference of approximately $30-50 per ton. With growing market demand and cost fluctuations driven by technological advancements, the future trend of EMAA prices is uncertain. On the one hand, if raw material prices remain stable and production technology is further optimized, economies of scale and cost reductions may emerge, potentially leading to price declines. On the other hand, if demand for EMAA continues to surge in downstream emerging markets, the resulting supply imbalance could drive prices upwards.