Terahertz and far-infrared spectroscopic estimation of vinyl acetate content in ethylene-vinyl acetate copolymer

For the purpose of estimating the content of vinyl acetate (VA) in ethylene-vinyl acetate copolymer (EVA), optical absorption spectra were measured in a frequency range from 0.5 to 21.0 THz for sheets of EVA containing different contents of VA from 12 to 60 % by weight and a sheet of low-density polyethylene containing no VA. As a result, it has become clear that EVA exhibits relatively sharp absorption at 2.5, 6.7, and 10.5 THz and rather broad absorption at 11 to 17 THz and 17 to 20 THz. All these absorption peaks and bands are in proportion to the content of VA, up to certain frequency-dependent contents. Using these proportionalities, the content of VA in EVA can be estimated quantitatively. Especially, the absorption at 2.5 THz shows a good accuracy similar to the method recommended by an international standard.