EVA Foam · grade · default condition
EVA Foam Closed Cell
Properties of the Closed Cell condition, compared with the other EVA Foam grades.
Default general-purpose skived or molded closed-cell EVA foam for padding, gaskets, midsoles and packaging.
What is EVA Foam Closed Cell?
EVA Foam Closed Cell is EVA Foam in the Closed Cell grade — default general-purpose skived or molded closed-cell EVA foam for padding, gaskets, midsoles and packaging. EVA Foam Closed Cell has a tensile strength of 1 MPa (0.145 ksi), weaker than 85% of polymer grades. Elongation at break is 200% and the elastic modulus is 0.01 GPa (7.25×10⁻⁴ Msi). EVA Foam Closed Cell has a density of 0.06 g/cm³ (0.0022 lb/in³), lighter than 87% of polymer grades. Its glass-transition temperature is -30°C (-22 °F).
Advantages
- Forms and bends easily — 90/100, better than 92% of polymer grades
- Easy to machine — 85/100, better than 88% of polymer grades
- Lightweight — 0.06 g/cm³ (0.0022 lb/in³), better than 87% of polymer grades
- Good corrosion resistance — 90/100, better than 81% of polymer grades
- Low embodied carbon — 3.4 kg CO₂/kg, better than 76% of polymer grades
Limitations
- Hard to polish — 10/100, worse than 98% of polymer grades
- High mold shrinkage — 2.5%, worse than 93% of polymer grades
- Low stiffness — 0.01 GPa (7.25×10⁻⁴ Msi), worse than 89% of polymer grades
- Poor heat conductor — 0.04 W/m·K (0.0231 BTU/hr·ft·°F), worse than 86% of polymer grades
- Limited service temperature — 70°C (158 °F), worse than 78% of polymer grades
EVA Foam Closed Cell properties
Typical room-temperature values for EVA Foam Closed Cell — 10 properties are specific to this condition; the rest are grade-level values shared by every EVA Foam grade. Each bar shows where the value sits among the polymer grades in FabDigit's library — further right is higher.
Physical5
EVA Foam Closed Cell has a density of 0.06 g/cm³ (0.0022 lb/in³), lighter than 87% of polymer grades. Its glass-transition temperature is -30°C (-22 °F).
Mechanical9
EVA Foam Closed Cell has a tensile strength of 1 MPa (0.145 ksi), weaker than 85% of polymer grades. Elongation at break is 200% and the elastic modulus is 0.01 GPa (7.25×10⁻⁴ Msi).
Thermal9
EVA Foam Closed Cell is rated for continuous service to 70°C (158 °F). It conducts heat at 0.04 W/m·K (0.0231 BTU/hr·ft·°F), worse than 86% of polymer grades. Thermal expansion is 180 µm/m·K (100 µin/in·°F).
Electrical4
EVA Foam Closed Cell has an electrical resistivity of 1×10¹² Ω·m.
Chemical & Environmental3
Corrosion resistance is excellent (90/100), better than 81% of polymer grades. UV resistance is fair.
Sustainability4
Producing a kilogram of EVA Foam Closed Cell takes about 75 MJ of energy and emits 3.4 kg of CO₂ — less than 91% of polymer grades. Typical recycled content is 15%.
Manufacturability8
EVA Foam Closed Cell's machinability is excellent (85/100, better than 88% of polymer grades); weldability very good (70/100); formability excellent (90/100).
Common Calculations4
Values are nominal handbook figures for design screening. Certified mill or lot data ships with every FabDigit order on request.
Other EVA Foam grades and fills
EVA Foam is also supplied in 10 other conditions. The full side-by-side table is on the EVA Foam overview.
- Closed CellDefaultDefault general-purpose skived or molded closed-cell EVA foam for padding, gaskets, midsoles and packaging.1 MPa tensile
- D200Choose for load-bearing pads, structural cosplay parts, orthotic posting and heavy-duty sealing where deflection must stay small.3 MPa tensile
- D100Pick when firmer support, better abrasion life and cleaner CNC/heat-formed edges are needed (cosplay armour, case inserts, outsole wedges).2 MPa tensile
- D60Workhorse density for shoe midsoles, sports padding and general gasketing.1 MPa tensile
- D35Pick for lightest-weight cushioning, buoyancy and packaging voids where load-bearing is minimal.0.6 MPa tensile
Working with EVA Foam Closed Cell
Is EVA Foam easy to machine?
Die-cuts, skives, hot-wire and drag-knife cuts cleanly; for CNC use single-flute sharp routers at high feed with vacuum hold-down — dull tools smear and melt the cells.
Can EVA Foam be welded?
Joins by contact/hot-air welding, heat lamination or hot-melt/contact adhesive (chloroprene, PU); surfaces should be scuffed or flame/plasma treated for structural bonds.
Can EVA Foam be formed, bent or molded?
Compression-molded from bun stock or heat-formed at roughly 110–140 °C surface temperature; expect 2–4 % shrinkage after demold and allow for skin formation on molded faces.
What surface finishes work on EVA Foam?
Seal the open cells of cut edges with heat, plasti-dip or flexible PU/latex primer before painting; flexible acrylic or PU topcoats only — rigid paints crack on flexing.
EVA Foam chemical composition (wt %)
Limits by weight percent from the governing specification, written the way the spec states them — a single maximum for impurities, a range for alloying elements, and the base element as balance. Nominal is the typical mid-range value.
| Element | Spec limit (wt %) | Nominal |
|---|---|---|
| vinyl acetate (comonomer)higher VA = softer, more elastic foam | 15 – 30 | 20 |
| azodicarbonamide (blowing agent)chemical foaming agent, decomposes ~150–170 °C | 1 – 6 | 3 |
| dicumyl peroxide (crosslinker)omitted in non-cross-linked grades | 0.3 – 1.2 | 0.7 |
| ZnO / zinc stearate (activator, kicker) | 0.5 – 3 | 1.5 |
| CaCO3 / talc fillercost/stiffness adjustment | 0 – 15 | 5 |
| pigment, antioxidant, processing aid | 0.5 – 4 | 2 |
| ethylene (comonomer)EVA copolymer backbone | ≥ 70 (balance) | — |
EVA Foam Closed Cell — frequently asked
What is EVA Foam Closed Cell used for?
EVA Foam Closed Cell is typically used for shoe midsoles and insoles, sports and helmet padding, case and tool-tray inserts, packaging cushioning, low-load dust and splash gaskets and thermal insulation layers. In short: lightweight closed-cell EVA.
What is the tensile strength of EVA Foam Closed Cell?
EVA Foam Closed Cell has a typical tensile strength of 1 MPa (0.145 ksi) — weaker than 85% of polymer grades. Strength varies by condition: see the 11 listed tempers.
Is EVA Foam Closed Cell easy to machine?
Yes — machinability is rated excellent (85/100, better than 88% of polymer grades). Die-cuts, skives, hot-wire and drag-knife cuts cleanly; for CNC use single-flute sharp routers at high feed with vacuum hold-down — dull tools smear and melt the cells.
Can EVA Foam Closed Cell be welded?
Yes — weldability is rated very good (70/100). Joins by contact/hot-air welding, heat lamination or hot-melt/contact adhesive (chloroprene, PU); surfaces should be scuffed or flame/plasma treated for structural bonds.
What surface finishes work on EVA Foam Closed Cell?
Seal the open cells of cut edges with heat, plasti-dip or flexible PU/latex primer before painting; flexible acrylic or PU topcoats only — rigid paints crack on flexing.
Can EVA Foam Closed Cell be formed, bent or molded?
Compression-molded from bun stock or heat-formed at roughly 110–140 °C surface temperature; expect 2–4 % shrinkage after demold and allow for skin formation on molded faces.
What is the maximum service temperature of EVA Foam Closed Cell?
EVA Foam Closed Cell is rated for continuous use to about 70°C (158 °F), and briefly to 90°C. Strength falls off well before that limit — check the elevated-temperature data for load-bearing parts.
Can FabDigit make parts in EVA Foam Closed Cell?
Yes — EVA Foam Closed Cell is available for CNC machining, sheet metal and injection molding with instant online pricing. Upload a STEP file to get a price and a DFM check.
Sources
- ASTM D3575 — Flexible Cellular Materials Made from Olefin Polymers — ASTM International (2020)
- ASTM D1056 — Flexible Cellular Materials, Sponge or Expanded Rubber — ASTM International (2020)
- UL 94 — Tests for Flammability of Plastic Materials (HBF/HF-1 cellular classes) — UL Solutions (2022)
- Alveolit / Alveolux cross-linked polyolefin & EVA foam data — Sekisui Alveo (2023)
- Evazote EVA foam grade data — Zotefoams (2023)
- Engineered Materials Handbook — Engineering Plastics (cellular plastics section) — ASM International (1988)
Property data is compiled from published supplier and standards handbooks and normalised for comparison. Nothing on this page is a certification — request mill certs, CoC or material test reports with your order.