EPE foam, or Expanded Polyethylene foam, is one of the most widely used plastics in production. What is polyethylene foam? It is a thermoplastic resin, which means that it can be melted by heating and cooled to form different shapes and objects.
What Are The Physical and Chemical Properties of EPE?
The physical and chemical properties of EPE foam are what give it its desirable characteristics. It is due to these properties that this plastic has avariety of applications in different industries such as EPE foam padding, EPE foam tube, and EPE foam sheet.
Physical Properties of EPE Foam
EPE foam is a harmless plastic and has no taste or odour.
It is a very popular material for packaging goods as it is light in weight and flexible. It has the ability to absorb shock and provide good cushioning to delicate objects.
EPE has a high weight to strength ratio and high thermal resistance. It can be heated and melted multiple times, and reshaped into other new objects due to the high EPE foam temperature range.
EPE foam is resistant to water, oils, and many chemicals. It is also a very good insulating material. EPE is available in different densities, according to its application or purpose.
Chemical Properties of EPE Foam
The chemical makeup of expanded polyethylene is similar to most plastics, and of the form (C₂H₄)nH₂. EPE is usually white in colour unless a dye or other colour pigment is added to it during the melting process.
EPE foam is also referred to as bead board in the plastic industry. It is a closed cell foam, which allows it to take up more volume and be light weight.
