Foam Tape Guide (WORK IN PROGRESS)

Selecting the correct foam tape for your desired application can be overwhelming.

Your decision is not made any simpler due to: -

• Different foam materials look & feel the same.

• Foam material is often available in a range of densities.

• Different foam materials offering similar attributes with minor yet important differences.

• Different names being used by suppliers and manufacturers for the same foam material.

Please do not hesitate to contact the WPS Team if you have any questions or require assistance.

Commonly used foam material & names.

PE Foam:- Polyethylene foam, IXPE Foam, Polyolefin foam when blended with other materials, Crosslinked Polyethylene Foam Tape.  PE foam is a premium quality closed cell foam made from Polyethylene and blended copolymers.

Neoprene Foam: -  Often abbreviated to CR Sponge or Foam, Polychloroprene or Chloroprene Foam, Synthetic Rubber Foam, Closed Cell Neoprene Sponge Foam. EPDM is very similar to Neoprene and often interchangeable depending on application. Due to the similarities between EPDM and Neoprene, Neoprene is often called EPDM which adds to the confusion.

EPDM Foam: - EPDM Sponge Tape, Ethylene Propylene Diene Monomer Rubber, Synthetic Rubber Foam. Neoprene is very similar to EPDM and often interchangeable depending upon application. Due to the similarities between EPDM and Neoprene, EPDM its often called Neoprene which adds to the confusion.

PVC Foam: - Poly Vinyl Chloride Foam, Medium Soft Closed Cell PVC Foam , Medium Soft Closed Cell PVC Foam

PVC Nitrile Foam: - Nitrile Butadiene Rubber, Nitrile Rubber Foam,Rubberised Closed Cell Foam, PVC NBR Foam, NBR Foam, PVN Foam & Nitrile Foam.  Vinyl Nitrile Foam is a polymer blend of PVC and Nitrile materials. 

Form/Sponge Tape Features

Neoprene Sponge/Foam (CR)	EPDM Sponge/Foam (EPDM)	Polyethylene Foam  (PE)	PVC Nitrile Foam (PVC)
UV & ozone resistant	UV & ozone resistant	Economical	Excellent conformability
Superior toughess	Soft so can seal irregular surface gaps.	Excellent impact resistance	Conforms to tight radius curves
Very durable	Excellent recovery after compression	Resistance to wide range of chemicals	Fair insulation and sound absorption properties
Minimum compression required to effect a seal	Minimum compression required to effect a seal	Minimum compression required to effect a seal	Minimum compression required to effect a seal.
Excellent ageing & elements resistance.	Fair ageing & element resistance.	Fair ageing & element resistance.	Fair ageing & element resistance.