EVA Foam Products

High quality closed-cell, cross-linked polyethylene (PE) and ethylene-vinyl-acetate (EVA) foams, suitable for a broad range of applications, particularly where durability, strength and resistance Read More

Use EVA Foam for Outstanding Results

When you need to use foam in the manufacturing of your products, ethyl vinyl acetate foam – more commonly known as EVA foam – is an excellent choice for a wide variety of applications.

Scientifically, EVA is classed as an elastomeric polymer. This means it has certain properties that give it a very rubber-like appearance, texture, and behaviour in solid form.

This substance holds its shape well but tolerates a high degree of compression, with elasticity that affords a certain amount of springiness.  These attributes make it well suited to use in products that require shock absorption, noise absorption, and similar qualities.

EVA foam is also buoyant. This means it can be used in the manufacture of flotation devices.

Comparison of EVA Foam to Latex Foam

Both latex and EVA foam are polymers with similar properties, but there are also some very important differences.

Latex foam is derived from a natural substance, while EVA foam is artificial. Normally consumers prefer natural products, but this is at least one situation where an artificial product offers advantages.

These substances each have multiple use-case scenarios, but they only have a few in common. One of the most typical applications they could both be used for is pillows or cushions, particularly cushions used for airline seats or in boats.

A particular problem of latex, despite being a natural substance (or perhaps because of it), is that many people have sensitivity to it. Some people even have full blown allergic reactions. Such problems have not been widely observed where EVA foam is used instead.

It’s also much easier to alter the properties of a batch of EVA foam than would be the case for latex foam because EVA foam is artificial. The formula can be adjusted to provide different degrees of hardness, density, and so on. Being natural, latex does not offer this benefit. The properties of latex certainly can be adjusted, but it must be done at a different stage of the manufacturing process, requiring more effort and expense.

When it comes to buoyancy, the chemistry and physics get a little more complicated. The foam behaves differently and exhibits different properties between its wet and dry states, as you would probably expect.

Some foams have a higher water absorption rate than others. Additionally, there is a property with all solid foams known technically as “creep”, which is a condition where air loss occurs in the foam cells, usually due to incorrect storage of a foam product.

In general, most formulations of EVA foam will have a better density rating and less creep potential compared to latex foam cut to the same dimensions, which means they will offer better performance when used for manufacture of flotation devices.

EVA foam costs about half as much as latex foam, which is another measurable advantage it offers. Latex foam is more costly than EVA foam because the supply chain is longer, and there are more steps involved in the manufacturing process.

Finally, there is one more thing that may make EVA foam often a better choice than latex foam, and it is that latex foam can have a rubbery smell that some people find unpleasant. EVA foam does not possess this odour. It’s only a small factor, but the smell of a product can make a difference when people are choosing which products they want to buy.

Comparison of EVA Foam to Memory Foam

Memory foam” is really just a marketing term for a substance more properly known as polyurethane foam. Both this and EVA foam are artificial polymers.

The biggest difference between them is that memory foam has a much longer delay in returning to its original shape when compressed. Thus for products that need to withstand repeated application of pressure for short durations (running shoes, for example), EVA foam will always be the better choice. EVA foam also provides better impact protection.

For products that will undergo a longer duration of compression, memory foam may provide better performance, but not always. Some people may find the behaviour of memory foam is actually less comfortable for them, and in any case, memory foam tends to be a much more expensive material that is not as easy to work with.

EVA Foam is Very Workable

One of the things we like best about EVA foam is that it is so easy to use in so many different ways. It is easy to cut and shape the foam, which is why it’s a favourite material for many cosplay enthusiasts and prop makers.

Cosplay website KamuiCosplay.com made this excellent YouTube tutorial video for creating amazing costume components from EVA foam. Another video from the same source shows how to make a sci-fi prop gun.

What can easily be seen in both videos is how easy it is to work with EVA foam to create products of different kinds using just simple tools that people would be likely to have at home. Imagine the amazing things you could create with a fully equipped factory and trained workers.

Buy EVA Foam Products in Australia from Foam Booth

Foam Booth (that’s us!) has been in the foam supply business in Australia for over 35 years. There’s not a single thing we don’t know about foam, so we can always provide you with the best advice on which foam materials are best suited for your intended usage.

We are also famous for our great service and the quality of the products we provide.

These are just some of the reasons why it’s best to choose EVA foam and to buy it from The Foam Booth. If you’d like to know more, just give us a call or send an email and we’ll be delighted to answer all your questions about EVA foam or other foam products you can buy from us.

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