Synthesis and physico-chemical evaluation of ethylene vinyl alcohol vinyl stearate polymers

Hydrophobic terpolymers ethylene/vinyl alcohol/vinyl stearate, of three dif ferent compositions, have been obtained by reaction of a commercial ethylen e/vinyl alcohol copolymer (EVAL) with stearoyl chloride at different molar ratios. The obtained polymers were characterized by means of H-1 NMR, trans mission FT-IR spectroscopy, differential scanning calorimetry and thermogra vimetric analysis. The hydrophobic character of the film surfaces was inves tigated by LR-ATR and by determining their surface and critical tensions. I t was seen that it increased with increasing degree of substitution of the hydroxy groups of EVAL.