EPE foam, also known as Expanded Polyethylene foam, is among the most commonly used plastics in the production process. It is a thermoplastic material that can be melted through heating and cooling to form various shapes. These foams are used to make foam fruit and bottle net, foam backer rods, foam pouches, foam underlay, foam packing rolls and many more.

Physical and Chemical Properties of EPE
The chemical and physical characteristics of EPE foam make it attractive because the plastic is used for a wide range of purposes in various industries like EPE foam padding, EPE foam tubes, and EPE foam sheets.

Physical Properties of EPE Foam
EPE foam can be described as a harmless plastic with no odour or taste. It is a popular material for packaging products because it is lightweight and pliable. It can absorb shock and offer good cushioning for delicate items. EPE has an excellent weight-to-strength ratio and a high resistance to heat. Because of the EPE's high-temperature range, it can be heated, melted multiple times, and then reshaped to create different objects. EPE foam is impervious to oils, water and other chemical compounds. It's also an efficient insulation material. EPE is available in various densities, based on the application or use.

Let's dig into some of the advantages of EPE foam below

1. Highly Flexible:
   EPE foam is a highly elastic material compared to other kinds of foam. EPE, therefore, provides the best protection for objects that are unusually shaped.
2. Excellent Shock Absorbency:
   A closed-cell structure in EPE foam allows it to absorb and withstand significant levels of stress or shock and offers a tremendous cushioning effect to the surface it covers.
3. Regains Form Easily:
   Another benefit that expanded polyethylene has is the speed at which it returns to its original form after going through stress or shock. It cannot be fractured, broken, crumbled or even shattered.
4. Resistance To Chemicals:
   EPE foam is resistant to corrosive solid substances such as acids, solvents and alkalis. Due to this factor, this can be used as a barrier shield to provide extra protection when managing and storing these chemicals.
5. Water and Moisture Resistant:
   The structure and chemical makeup of polyethylene foam makes it virtually impenetrable. EPE thus does not absorb water nor allow it to flow through. Hence, it's used for material protection against water.
6. Resistance to Static:
   Specific forms of EPE are very resistant to static and therefore don't attract dust and other small particles onto their surface.
7. Insulation Properties:
   EPE foam has extremely low thermal conductivity, and therefore, it is the best insulation against heat.
8. Non-Toxic And Food Safe:
   EPE foam is not toxic and can therefore be used in food packaging. It is also immune to the development of fungi and microbes that may be found on the surface. The other important aspect is that it has no odour.
9. Easy To Handle:
   EPE foam is relatively simple to work with. It can be easily cut, moulded, shaped, and then attached to other objects and the surface. It can be easily shaped into various forms without expensive tools or moulds.
10. Light Weight:
    While it is pretty durable, EPE foam is lightweight, making it simple to carry and move. It can be utilized for a variety of purposes due to this quality.
11. Usable Temperature Range:
    EPE foam is utilized in the range of 40-70 degrees without altering its structure or its properties. Hence, this makes it ideal for many applications that require electrical or heat insulation.
12. Aesthetics:
    EPE foam is dyed with a variety of colours, allowing colour-coding and pure aesthetic uses.

The Applications Of EPE
Expanded polyethylene is utilized for a variety of purposes, such as the ones below:

Shock Absorption:
EPE foam is used to protect fragile items like glass and glassware instruments for science and delicate machinery parts and other materials that are scratchable, such as granite and marble, and so on.

Insulation:
Expanded polyethylene is extensively utilized to create insulation for pipes, air conditioners, and heaters.

In Construction:
EPE can be utilized for many applications in construction, like joint fillers and waterproofing.

Buoyant Applications:
EPE is also used to produce life vests and other floating devices.

Sports:
EPE can be used to make yoga mats, sports mats, shin guards and thig guards, etc.

The Wrap Up
It is better to conduct a thorough investigation of the products they are using to package goods as well as other applications to make sure they're not harmful to the environment. EPE foam is environmentally friendly as it can be recycled and degraded under certain conditions. If you are looking for any products made from PE foam in Dubai, you can get in touch with our company SKV Plastics and explore our wide range of products.