Do You Know the Difference Between XPE and IXPE Foam?

XPE and IXPE foams are both cross-linked polyethylene foams. They share many similarities, but their core difference lies in their production process, which directly impacts their performance and applications.

Similarities:
1.Material Composition: Both are made primarily from polyethylene (PE).

Cell Structure: Both are closed-cell foams, with independent, non-interconnected cells. This provides excellent waterproofing, moisture-proofing, and thermal insulation.

2.Basic Performance: Because they are cross-linked, their toughness, resilience, durability, and shock-absorbing properties are far superior to those of uncross-linked EPE (Electrode Pearl Emulsion).

Main Differences:

The fundamental difference between XPE and IXPE lies in the cross-linking method:

XPE (chemically cross-linked polyethylene): During the production process, chemical cross-linking agents are added to achieve foaming and cross-linking, forming a network of molecular chains.

IXPE (irradiated cross-linked polyethylene): After the polyethylene sheet is formed, it is irradiated with high-energy electron beams to cross-link its molecular chains. This physical cross-linking method does not rely on chemical additives.

This difference in process results in the following performance differences: