Step 1: Understanding the Concept:
Hot tack refers to the strength of a heat seal measured immediately after the sealing cycle, while the seal is still hot and before it cools down to ambient temperature.
High hot tack is essential in high-speed form-fill-seal (FFS) packaging machines, where the product drops into the bag immediately after the bottom seal is made, putting immediate mechanical stress on the hot seal.
Step 2: Detailed Explanation:
Let us evaluate the hot tack properties of the listed materials:
- EVOH and PVC are not used as primary heat-sealing layers because they have poor heat-sealing characteristics.
- LDPE is a common heat-sealing layer, but its hot tack strength is moderate.
- Ethylene Vinyl Acetate (EVA) is a copolymer of ethylene and vinyl acetate.
The addition of polar vinyl acetate groups disrupts the crystallinity of polyethylene, lowering its melting point and significantly increasing its tackiness and elasticity when molten.
As a result, EVA exhibits exceptionally high seal strength while still hot (very high hot tackability) and can form strong seals at lower temperatures.
Therefore, EVA is the material with relatively very high hot tackability.
Step 3: Final Answer:
The plastic material with relatively very high hot tackability is Ethylene vinyl acetate (EVA).