What is VAE Emulsion

Release time:

2025-08-11 16:03

    VAE emulsion refers to vinyl acetate-ethylene copolymer emulsion, which is also call VAE latex Emulsion/ VAE dispersion/ aqueous polymer dispersion/ Vinyl acetate ethylene copolymer dispersions.

    It is a very important water-based polymer emulsion with a wide range of applications in industry and daily life. The following is a detailed introduction to VAE emulsion:

1. Core Ingredients:

It is formed by the copolymerization of two monomers, vinyl acetate and ethylene, through an emulsion polymerization process.

The introduction of ethylene monomer is a key difference between VAE emulsions and traditional polyvinyl acetate emulsions.

 

2.Appearance:

It typically appears as a milky white liquid.

It is a water-based dispersion system with water as the continuous medium and polymer particles dispersed within it.

 

3. Key Features and Advantages:

Environmental friendliness: The water-based medium contains no organic solvents (or very low levels), no harmful substances such as formaldehyde and APEO, and a low VOC content, meeting environmental requirements.

Excellent flexibility and low-temperature flexibility: The addition of ethylene monomer reduces the rigidity of the vinyl acetate molecular chain, significantly improving the polymer's flexibility, impact resistance, and low-temperature resistance (low film-forming temperature). Good Water Resistance: Compared to traditional polyvinyl acetate emulsions, VAE emulsions offer superior water and alkali resistance.

Excellent Adhesive Properties: They exhibit excellent bonding strength to a variety of polar and non-polar substrates (such as wood, paper, fabric, concrete, tile, plastic film, leather, etc.).

Film-Forming Properties: After water evaporates, the polymer particles fuse to form a continuous, transparent or translucent, tough film.

Excellent mechanical stability, freeze-thaw stability, and storage stability.

Good Plasticizer/Tackifier Compatibility: They can be compatible or blended with a variety of plasticizers, fillers, and other polymer emulsions (such as acrylates) to adjust properties.

Wide Application Latitude.

 

4. Main Applications:

Adhesives: This is the largest application area for VAE emulsions.

Construction Adhesives: Tile adhesives, primers, putty adhesives, cement mortar modifiers, waterproof coating bases, sealants, gypsum board joint compounds, etc.

Woodworking Adhesives: Furniture, cabinets, wood flooring installation, etc. Packaging and Paper Adhesives: Paper tube adhesive, bookbinding adhesive, label adhesive, carton adhesive, etc.

Textile and Non-Woven Adhesives: Used in the manufacture of disposable hygiene products (diapers, sanitary napkins), medical non-woven fabrics, filter materials, carpet backing, garment interlining, etc.

Self-Adhesive Labels and Tapes.

Coatings:

Interior and Exterior Wall Coatings: As a base material or additive, it provides excellent adhesion, scrub resistance, and flexibility.

Waterproof Coatings: Its flexibility and water resistance make it an excellent base material for waterproof coatings.

Specialty Coatings: Such as metal anti-corrosion primers (requires other resins) and floor coatings.

Building Mortar Modifier: Added to cement mortar or gypsum mortar, it significantly improves its bond strength, flexibility, crack resistance, and workability (water retention and smoothness).

Paper Processing: Used as a surface sizing agent or coating agent to improve paper strength, smoothness, ink absorption, and printability. Other applications: Leather finishing agent, glass fiber sizing agent, soil stabilizer, etc.

 

5. Differences from PVAc emulsion:

PVAc emulsion is a polyvinyl acetate emulsion containing only vinyl acetate as a monomer.

VAE emulsion is a vinyl acetate-ethylene copolymer emulsion containing ethylene as a monomer.

The addition of ethylene makes VAE emulsion significantly superior to traditional PVAc emulsion in terms of flexibility, water resistance, alkali resistance, bond strength (especially for difficult-to-bond substrates), and low-temperature resistance.

 

    In summary, VAE emulsion is a high-performance, environmentally friendly water-based polymer material. With its outstanding flexibility, adhesion, water resistance, environmental friendliness, and wide substrate compatibility, it plays an irreplaceable role in adhesives, coatings, building mortar modification, textile and non-woven fabrics, and paper processing. It is a significant upgrade to traditional PVAc emulsion.

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