Polyethylene Foam

Polyethylene (PE) is well-known as the most prevalent polymer on the planet. PE foams, an important closed-cell thermoplastic foam material, have a large number of pores inside its PE matrix. These materials offer numerous advantages over bulky PE materials, including low density, effective heat and sound insulation, high specific strength, and corrosion resistance and so on. PE foam is currently one of the most extensively used polymer material and plays an essential role in the polymer industry. It is hard to get through a whole day without encountering some kind of PE foam. Herein, PE foams historical background, properties, synthesis, characterization and their applications are overviewed. Several batch and continuous techniques used for the production of PE foams are discussed. PE foaming resins, role of foaming agents and foaming process principals are conferred. Emerging trends and development in PE foams for advance applications are presented.