PE vs EVA: weatherability vs cushioning
PE foam is a soft closed-cell carrier with excellent weatherability — UV, moisture and ageing resistant, ideal for outdoor sealing such as curtain-wall gaps, outdoor nameplates and luminaires.
EVA foam is denser with tunable hardness, strong cushioning and shock absorption — typical for electronics pads, feet, case linings and appliance damping.
Rule of thumb: choose PE for sun, rain and ageing; choose EVA for compression, shock and buffering.
Thickness: the one-third compression rule
Sealing and damping come from compression. Target 25–35% compression in service: 0.3 mm gap → 0.5 mm tape; 0.5–0.8 mm gap → 1.0 mm; above 1.5 mm → 2.0–3.0 mm. For very large gaps prefer two-stage bonding or shims rather than ever-thicker foam.
Adhesive and liner details
Most PE/EVA foam tapes use two-part solvent acrylic adhesive, -10 to 80 °C. Low-surface-energy substrates may need primer. Film liners (red/blue/green) give flat surfaces for die-cutting and automatic dispensing; paper liners are cheaper for manual application.
Application cheat-sheet
Automotive exterior (emblems, trims, mudguard pads): PE foam 0.8–1.2 mm, black adhesive.
Electronics (cushioning pads, display frame sealing): EVA foam 0.5–1.0 mm.
Curtain walls (gap filling, panel fixing): PE foam 1.5–3.0 mm, UV resistant.
Appliances (feet, damping pads): EVA foam 1.0–2.0 mm, paper liner, cost-first.
Takeaway
Selection order: carrier by 'weatherability vs cushioning', thickness by one-third compression, adhesive and liner by substrate and application process. Send us the gap, substrate and service temperature — we will match a grade and ship samples.