What is the difference in IXPE foam and XPE(XLPE) faom?

What is the IXPE foam?

IXPE (Irradiation crosslinked polyethylene foam) is made by extruding polyethylene or modified polyethylene with various fillers. After being crosslinked by electron accelerator radiation, high temperature foaming is achieved molecular foam material.

                                                                IXPE foam

What is the XPE (XLPE)faom?

XPE (Chemical crosslinked polyethylene foam) is a polymer foam material made by mixing polyethylene with various fillers, adding chemical crosslinkers and foaming agents. And that is expanded in heat oven after extruded with the help of chemical inflators and cross linking agents that are put inside. It has advanced chemical and mechanical features.

                                                     XPE (XLPE)foam

What is the difference in IXPE foam and XPE(XLPE) faom?

First, both IXPE foam and XPE(XLPE) foam are cross-linked polyethylene closed-cell foams. The XPE(XLPE) is a chemical cross-linking and IXPE is an irradiation cross-linking of electron accelerator. Therefore, the mechanics performance of IXPE foam is better than XPE and the surface is smooth as well, but the price of IXPE foam is more expensive than XPE due to the production equipments is a big investment. 

Second, application: IXPE foam is often used in the automotive, sports and high-end packaging industries etc. XPE(XLPE) foam is often used in general packaging,construction and air-conditioning industries etc. because of its cheap price.