The properties of the versatile vinyl acetate ethylene ("VAE") polymer are reviewed, with applications in coating paper and cardboard products. VAE is sometimes known as ethylene vinyl acetate ("EVA"). VAE is flexible, resistant to water and UV radiation, and displays little odor or color. VAE finds applications in adhesives, coatings, water-based paints, diesel fuel additives, and controlled-release pharmaceuticals. VAE can also be expanded into foam or processed like thermoplastics. This article presents innovative approaches applying VAE coatings on paper and cardboard. Applying coatings to paper and cardboard is traditionally done after paper production and finishing, i.e., in a "converting" process where the raw material paper is converted into another paper product by physical action, e.g., cutting and folding, or by the
application of coatings and finishes. Traditional coating methods (solvent evaporations, spray, air knife, and blade coater) are discussed and innovative approaches (hot roll, flame, calendar, sheet extrusion/lamination, nonwoven airlaid, microencapusulation, rotogravure, and inkjet) to
apply vinyl acetate ethylene to a substrate are presented.