POE Foam XL-POE
Grade
also Engage/Infuse POE
XL-POE = peroxide-crosslinked, chemically blown compression-molded POE foam
Conventional footwear-plant route (same tooling as EVA phylon); better set resistance and heat stability, slightly lower rebound than physical foaming.
Values for the XL-POE condition
Other POE Foam grades and fills
POE Foam is listed in 8 conditions; see the grade overview at POE Foam.
Compare all 8 grades and fillsHide
| Grade · open for datasheet | Best for | Yield MPa | Tensile MPa | Elong. % | Hardness |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Ultra-low-density supercritical POE foam, 0.08–0.11 g/cm³ | Pick when minimum weight matters (racing midsoles, lightweight padding); softer and less durable. | — | 1 | 200 | 25 Shore A |
Expanded POE bead foam, steam-chest molded | Choose for complex 3-D near-net shapes and the highest energy return (E-TPU-like bead structure) with tunable local density. | — | 2 | 180 | 33 Shore A |
Antistatic / carbon-loaded conductive POE foam | For electronics packaging and cleanroom cushioning where static dissipation is required. | — | 2 | 150 | 45 Shore A |
Halogen-free flame-retardant POE foam | Specify for transport interiors, battery-pack padding and electronics gaskets needing UL 94 V-0 / low smoke. | — | 2 | 130 | 12 Shore D |
SCF-D15Default Supercritical CO₂/N₂ foamed POE, 0.15 g/cm³ | Standard physically-foamed (non-crosslinked) POE midsole/cushion sheet — best balance of resilience, weight and cost. | — | 2 | 220 | 35 Shore A |
XL-POEThis page Peroxide-crosslinked, chemically blown compression-molded POE foam | Conventional footwear-plant route (same tooling as EVA phylon); better set resistance and heat stability, slightly lower rebound than physical foaming. | — | 2 | 230 | 42 Shore A |
POE/EVA blend foam | Cost-down blend: keeps much of POE's rebound and cold flexibility while improving adhesion, dimensional stability and price. | — | 2 | 260 | 44 Shore A |
High-density supercritical POE foam, 0.20–0.28 g/cm³ | Use where load support, durability and low set matter more than weight (heavy-duty midsoles, industrial padding). | — | 3 | 250 | 48 Shore A |
What is POE Foam XL-POE?
POE Foam XL-POE is POE Foam in the XL-POE grade — conventional footwear-plant route (same tooling as EVA phylon); better set resistance and heat stability, slightly lower rebound than physical foaming. POE Foam XL-POE has a tensile strength of 2 MPa (0.319 ksi), weaker than 84% of polymer grades. Elongation at break is 230% and the elastic modulus is 0.01 GPa (0.0015 Msi). POE Foam XL-POE has a density of 0.18 g/cm³ (0.0065 lb/in³), lighter than 85% of polymer grades. Its glass-transition temperature is -52°C (-62 °F). SCF-D15 is the default condition FabDigit quotes; XL-POE is available on request or by drawing note.
Advantages
- Lightweight — 0.18 g/cm³ (0.0065 lb/in³), better than 85% of polymer grades
- Low embodied carbon — 3 kg CO₂/kg, better than 83% of polymer grades
- Ductile — tolerates forming and impact — 230%, better than 77% of polymer grades
- Forms and bends easily — 80/100, better than 75% of polymer grades
Limitations
- High mold shrinkage — 3%, worse than 97% of polymer grades
- Poor heat conductor — 0.05 W/m·K (0.0289 BTU/hr·ft·°F), worse than 84% of polymer grades
- Low stiffness — 0.01 GPa (0.0015 Msi), worse than 81% of polymer grades
POE Foam XL-POE properties
Typical room-temperature values for POE Foam XL-POE; 20 are specific to this condition. Other listed values are POE Foam reference data and may not represent this condition. Bars are the position among polymer grades.
Physical5
POE Foam XL-POE has a density of 0.18 g/cm³ (0.0065 lb/in³), lighter than 85% of polymer grades. Its glass-transition temperature is -52°C (-62 °F).
Mechanical9
POE Foam XL-POE has a tensile strength of 2 MPa (0.319 ksi), weaker than 84% of polymer grades. Elongation at break is 230% and the elastic modulus is 0.01 GPa (0.0015 Msi).
Thermal8
POE Foam XL-POE is rated for continuous service to 80°C (176 °F). It conducts heat at 0.05 W/m·K (0.0289 BTU/hr·ft·°F), worse than 84% of polymer grades. Thermal expansion is 200 µm/m·K (111.1 µin/in·°F).
Electrical5
POE Foam XL-POE has an electrical resistivity of 1×10¹⁴ Ω·m.
Chemical & Environmental2
UV resistance is fair.
Sustainability4
Producing a kilogram of POE Foam XL-POE takes about 88 MJ of energy and emits 3 kg of CO₂ — less than 76% of polymer grades. Typical recycled content is 5%.
Manufacturability7
POE Foam XL-POE's machinability is good (62/100, better than 60% of polymer grades); weldability poor (25/100); formability very good (80/100).
Values are nominal handbook figures for design screening. Confirm any required mill or lot documentation when quoting.
Working with POE Foam XL-POE
Is POE Foam easy to machine?
Die-cut, water-jet, skive or CNC hot-wire; use sharp steel rule dies and light spray lubricant — routers smear the soft skin and buffing wheels load quickly.
Can POE Foam be welded?
Hot-air/hot-plate and impulse welding work on the skin; the non-polar surface is not RF weldable, so corona, plasma or UV-primer treatment is required before PU/water-based adhesive bonding.
Can POE Foam be formed, bent or molded?
Compression-mold at 160–175 °C then cold-set for XL-POE, steam-chest mold at 110–135 °C for bead foam, or extrude/inject with supercritical CO₂/N₂ (MuCell-type) at 150–200 °C melt; expect 1.5–5 % post-mold shrinkage over 24–48 h and design tooling oversize.
What surface finishes work on POE Foam?
Buff and wash before cementing; water-based PU primer plus corona treatment is standard for sole bonding. Foam takes solvent inks and pad printing poorly — use in-mold color masterbatch or foam-compatible screen inks.
POE Foam chemical composition (wt %)
Limits by weight percent from the governing specification, written the way the spec states them — a single maximum for impurities, a range for alloying elements, and the base element as balance. Nominal is the typical mid-range value.
| Element | Spec limit (wt %) | Nominal |
|---|---|---|
| 1-octene (comonomer)controls density/crystallinity; 1-butene or 1-hexene used in some grades | 12 – 40 | 25 |
| physical blowing agent (CO₂/N₂)supercritical fluid, largely removed after expansion | 0.5 – 6 | 3 |
| chemical blowing agent (AC/OBSH)crosslinked XL-POE route only | 0 – 5 | 0 |
| peroxide crosslinker (DCP)XL-POE route only | 0 – 1.2 | 0 |
| talc / nucleating agentcell-size control | 0.2 – 2 | 0.8 |
| antioxidant / UV packagephenolic + phosphite, HALS in UV grades | 0.1 – 1 | 0.4 |
| ethylene (repeat unit)metallocene ethylene–α-olefin copolymer backbone | ≥ 60 (balance) | — |
POE Foam XL-POE — frequently asked
What is POE Foam XL-POE used for?
POE Foam XL-POE is typically used for performance running shoe midsoles, sports cushioning inserts, premium packaging cushioning and vibration damping pads. In short: higher rebound than EVA; low-density footwear foam; surface treatment needed for bonding.
What is the tensile strength of POE Foam XL-POE?
POE Foam XL-POE has a typical tensile strength of 2 MPa (0.319 ksi) — weaker than 84% of polymer grades. Strength varies by condition: see the 8 listed tempers.
Is POE Foam XL-POE easy to machine?
Reasonably — machinability is rated good (62/100, better than 60% of polymer grades). Die-cut, water-jet, skive or CNC hot-wire; use sharp steel rule dies and light spray lubricant — routers smear the soft skin and buffing wheels load quickly.
Can POE Foam XL-POE be welded?
Not readily — weldability is rated poor (25/100). Hot-air/hot-plate and impulse welding work on the skin; the non-polar surface is not RF weldable, so corona, plasma or UV-primer treatment is required before PU/water-based adhesive bonding.
What surface finishes work on POE Foam XL-POE?
Buff and wash before cementing; water-based PU primer plus corona treatment is standard for sole bonding. Foam takes solvent inks and pad printing poorly — use in-mold color masterbatch or foam-compatible screen inks.
Can POE Foam XL-POE be formed, bent or molded?
Compression-mold at 160–175 °C then cold-set for XL-POE, steam-chest mold at 110–135 °C for bead foam, or extrude/inject with supercritical CO₂/N₂ (MuCell-type) at 150–200 °C melt; expect 1.5–5 % post-mold shrinkage over 24–48 h and design tooling oversize.
What is the maximum service temperature of POE Foam XL-POE?
POE Foam XL-POE is rated for continuous use to about 80°C (176 °F), and briefly to 90°C. Strength falls off well before that limit — check the elevated-temperature data for load-bearing parts.
Sources
- ASTM D3575 — Flexible Cellular Materials Made from Olefin Polymers — ASTM International (2020)
- ENGAGE / INFUSE Polyolefin Elastomer resin datasheets — Dow (2023)
- Handbook of Polymeric Foams and Foam Technology — Hanser (2004)
- ASM Engineered Materials Handbook Vol. 2 — Engineering Plastics — ASM International (1988)
- CAMPUS / UL Prospector polyolefin elastomer entries — CWFG / UL (2024)
Property data is compiled from published supplier and standards handbooks and normalised for comparison. Nothing on this page is a certification — request mill certs, CoC or material test reports with your order.