EVA Foam

EVA as raw material

EVA (ethylene vinyl acetate) is a thermoplastic produced by polymerisation of ethylene and vinyl acetate to form a copolymer. This material has the same properties as an elastomer, making it a soft, flexible raw material. It is a ‘cross-linked’ material, which means that a chemical reaction occurred during the injection moulding process, causing the formation of strong bridges between the long polymer chains. The raw material EVA occurs in three different forms: as a powder, sheets or granulate. The dosage of copolymer varies for each form. The granulate is used to make sheets and liners, while the EVA grains are used to make EVA foam. This involves a process of granulation, mixing, injection moulding and foaming. The grains are placed in a particular mould, and a chemical reaction gives rise to the formation of the closed cell structure EVA foam. EKI converts this to sheets, strips, rings and other shapes. We can also deliver a self-adhesive variety of EVA foam.

Properties of EVA foam

The foam is soft and flexible thanks to the properties of the raw material used to make it. It is also very elastic, lightweight, resistant to wear, waterproof, resistant to UV radiation and ozone, and is suitable for use as insulation against heat, cold and sound. EVA foam is a much more durable and effective material than PE or rubber. It also has better mechanical properties than PE, for example, which means that it returns readily to its original shape after compression, and has the same properties on both the inside and outside. The material is non-toxic, easy to maintain, is non-slip and resistant to scratching and biting, which makes it highly suitable for applications involving frequent contact with small children. This is one of the many consumer applications, but in the shapes that EKI produces, it is used for industrial applications, mainly for shock absorption purposes.

EVA foam applications

EVA foam has a number of applications, including as frame, door and glass sealant in construction, and the sealing of joints without a large joint gradient, such as with partition walls, pads and the pouring of concrete. It is also widely used in boats, wellness centres, swimming polls, gardens, playgrounds and in the sporting sector, where the possibilities offered by its shock absorbing qualities are endless. Other common consumer applications are in child seats, shoe soles, solar panels, toys, tyres for prams, bag linings or even in car interiors.

How EKI delivers EVA foam to you

Nijmegen-based manufacturer EKI can supply you with high-quality EVA foam sheets in both standard and custom sizes. Our EVA foam items can be delivered both in bulk and in small quantities. Regardless of the size of the purchase, we can deliver our products quickly throughout Europe. If you have specific requirements or questions about our products or their technical specifications, please contact us via +31(0)243773378 or info@eki.nl.