Properties And Processing Advantages
These microphotographs show the effect of various manufacturing processes on the cell structure of polyethylene foams. PLASTAZOTE® foam shows no sign of residue within its cells, the walls of which are both uniform and regular. It is this regularity which gives these foams their consistent and anisotropic mechanical properties. The small-scale local imperfections seen in other foams can seriously reduce  mechanical strength (tear, tensile and compressive), whilst orientation and 'frozen-in' stresses can cause fabrication difficulties.

Plastazote® foam MAGNIFICATION x50 MAGNIFICATION x500 Chemically cross-linked and chemically expanded LDPE foam MAGNIFICATION x50 MAGNIFICATION x500 Non cross-linked LDPE foam MAGNIFICATION x50 MAGNIFICATION x500

Processing
Zotefoams plc foam products are easily manipulated and processed using one or more of many commonly available techniques, for example:

Butt Welding - Adhesive Bonding - Thermoforming Thermopunching - Thermoprofiling - Laminating (Fabric, Foams, Other materials) Sawing - Splitting - Die Stamping - Hot Wire Cutting Routing - Sanding - Drilling Flocking - Printing

Vacuum Foaming/ Thermoforming Advantages
Zotefoams foams when thermoformed, have particular advantages over other foams made by chemical expansion processes. These are:

1. Deeper draw ratios - because of the superior cell structure.

2. No odour - because of the absence of chemical residues.

3. No distortion - because PLASTAZOTE® and EVAZOTE® foams are expanded in a free environment without the use of moulds that build stresses into the foam.

Properties
PLASTAZOTE®, EVAZOTE®, SUPAZOTE® and PROPOZOTE®: