SEBS FOAM
Grade
FOAM = foamable / foamed grade
Chemically or physically foamed SEBS for lightweight grips, shoe midsoles and sealing foam; density and feel tune with expansion ratio.
Values for the FOAM condition
Other SEBS grades and fills
SEBS is listed in 15 conditions; see the grade overview at SEBS.
Compare all 15 grades and fillsHide
| Grade · open for datasheet | Best for | Yield MPa | Tensile MPa | Elong. % | Hardness |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Highly oil-extended gel | Very high white-oil loading for gel pads, cable-sealing gels, prosthetic liners and vibration damping. | — | 0.6 | 900 | 8 Shore A |
FOAMThis page Foamable / foamed grade | Chemically or physically foamed SEBS for lightweight grips, shoe midsoles and sealing foam; density and feel tune with expansion ratio. | — | 2 | 300 | 25 Shore A |
Shore A 30 compound | Very soft skin-contact and grip layer; choose when a rubbery, cushioning feel matters more than tear or wear resistance. | — | 4 | 750 | 30 Shore A |
High-density mineral-filled (sound-damping / weighted) grade | BaSO4/CaCO3-loaded SEBS used as an acoustic barrier or weighted soft part; stiff, low elongation, low cost per volume. | — | 4 | 250 | 32 Shore D |
Shore A 40 compound | General soft-touch overmold and gasket hardness with a usable balance of feel and tear strength. | — | 5 | 700 | 9 Shore D |
Antistatic / conductive grade | Carbon-loaded SEBS for ESD-safe grips, conductive seals and electrode pads; black only, and mechanicals/feel are compromised. | — | 5 | 350 | 70 Shore A |
PP/PE-bondable overmold grade | PP-rich SEBS compound that fuses directly to polyolefin substrates in 2K molding — pick for PP tool handles and closures. | — | 6 | 650 | 14 Shore D |
Flame-retardant grade | Halogen-free (MDH/ATH) or brominated FR compound for cable jackets and appliance parts requiring V-0; heavily filled, so mechanicals drop. | — | 6 | 300 | 30 Shore D |
Shore A 60 compound | Workhorse hardness for handle grips, seals and cable jackets needing better abrasion and set than the very soft grades. | — | 7 | 650 | 60 Shore A |
Polar-substrate bondable grade (PC, ABS, PA, PC/ABS) | Compatibilized (often MA- or polar-modified) SEBS for 2K overmolding onto engineering plastics; needs hotter melt and mold to develop bond. | — | 7 | 500 | 17 Shore D |
Shore A 70 compound | Semi-rigid seals, bellows, and wire jackets where higher modulus and lower creep are needed. | — | 9 | 600 | 22 Shore D |
Shore A 80 compound | Hard TPE for structural bumpers, castor treads and snap-in seals; feels firm rather than rubbery. | — | 11 | 550 | 28 Shore D |
Shore A 90 compound | Hardest common SEBS compound — wheels, protective housings, hinge-like flexures; approaches Shore D 35. | — | 14 | 500 | 35 Shore D |
Maleic-anhydride grafted SEBS | Reactive impact modifier / compatibilizer for PA, PBT, PC and filled alloys; not used as a stand-alone elastomer. | — | 25 | 500 | 23 Shore D |
NEATDefault Neat SEBS base polymer | Raw block-copolymer pellet/crumb bought for compounding, adhesives, oil gels and polymer modification — not normally molded as-is. | — | 30 | 550 | 24 Shore D |
What is SEBS FOAM?
SEBS FOAM is SEBS in the FOAM grade — chemically or physically foamed SEBS for lightweight grips, shoe midsoles and sealing foam; density and feel tune with expansion ratio. SEBS FOAM has a tensile strength of 2 MPa (0.261 ksi), weaker than 85% of polymer grades. Elongation at break is 300% and the elastic modulus is 0 GPa (2.9×10⁻⁴ Msi). SEBS FOAM has a density of 0.45 g/cm³ (0.0163 lb/in³), lighter than 84% of polymer grades. Its glass-transition temperature is -55°C (-67 °F). NEAT is the default condition FabDigit quotes; FOAM is available on request or by drawing note.
Advantages
- Forms and bends easily — 95/100, better than 99% of polymer grades
- Good UV / weathering resistance — 80/100, better than 86% of polymer grades
- Lightweight — 0.45 g/cm³ (0.0163 lb/in³), better than 84% of polymer grades
- Low moisture uptake — 0.05%, better than 84% of polymer grades
- Ductile — tolerates forming and impact — 300%, better than 81% of polymer grades
Limitations
- Difficult to machine — 20/100, worse than 97% of polymer grades
- Low stiffness — 0 GPa (2.9×10⁻⁴ Msi), worse than 95% of polymer grades
- High mold shrinkage — 2.5%, worse than 93% of polymer grades
- Poor heat conductor — 0.07 W/m·K (0.0404 BTU/hr·ft·°F), worse than 84% of polymer grades
- Hard to polish — 30/100, worse than 82% of polymer grades
SEBS FOAM properties
Typical room-temperature values for SEBS FOAM; 18 are specific to this condition. Other listed values are SEBS reference data and may not represent this condition. Bars are the position among polymer grades.
Physical5
SEBS FOAM has a density of 0.45 g/cm³ (0.0163 lb/in³), lighter than 84% of polymer grades. Its glass-transition temperature is -55°C (-67 °F).
Mechanical8
SEBS FOAM has a tensile strength of 2 MPa (0.261 ksi), weaker than 85% of polymer grades. Elongation at break is 300% and the elastic modulus is 0 GPa (2.9×10⁻⁴ Msi).
Thermal9
SEBS FOAM is rated for continuous service to 80°C (176 °F). It conducts heat at 0.07 W/m·K (0.0404 BTU/hr·ft·°F), worse than 84% of polymer grades. Thermal expansion is 180 µm/m·K (100 µin/in·°F).
Electrical7
SEBS FOAM is an electrical insulator with a dielectric strength of 22 kV/mm (558.8 V/mil) and a resistivity of 1×10¹³ Ω·m.
Chemical & Environmental3
Corrosion resistance is very good (80/100), worse than 52% of polymer grades. UV resistance is very good.
Sustainability4
Producing a kilogram of SEBS FOAM takes about 105 MJ of energy and emits 3.6 kg of CO₂ — more than 54% of polymer grades. Typical recycled content is 2%.
Manufacturability8
SEBS FOAM's machinability is poor (20/100, worse than 97% of polymer grades); weldability fair (45/100); formability excellent (95/100).
Values are nominal handbook figures for design screening. Confirm any required mill or lot documentation when quoting.
Working with SEBS FOAM
Is SEBS easy to machine?
Poor — the material smears and deflects; die-cutting, waterjet or cryogenic trimming beats milling, and sharp uncoated blades with air blast are required for any cutting.
Can SEBS be welded?
No solvent or HF welding; hot-plate and ultrasonic joints are weak, so 2K overmolding, heat staking to a rigid substrate, or cyanoacrylate/hot-melt adhesive after plasma treatment is preferred.
Can SEBS be formed, bent or molded?
Injection mold at 190–230 °C melt, 20–50 °C tool, low back pressure and generous gates; dry 2–3 h at 60–70 °C if hygroscopic additives are present, and expect 1–2.5 % shrinkage with 2–3 % typical demold recovery.
What surface finishes work on SEBS?
Cannot be painted or plated reliably without adhesion primer; appearance comes from tool texture, in-mold color masterbatch, or anti-tack/soft-touch surface additives to reduce dust pickup.
SEBS 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 |
|---|---|---|
| styrene (end blocks)polystyrene hard-domain content of the base polymer | 13 – 35 | 30 |
| white mineral / paraffinic oiladded only in TPE compounds, not in the neat resin | 0 – 60 | 0 |
| polypropylenecompound carrier resin for processing and PP adhesion | 0 – 40 | 0 |
| mineral filler (CaCO3, BaSO4, talc)cost / density / damping adjustment in compounds | 0 – 60 | 0 |
| antioxidant + UV stabilizerhindered phenol/phosphite, HALS | 0.1 – 1 | 0.3 |
| ethylene/butylene (hydrogenated butadienresidual unsaturation typically <2 % | ≥ 65 (balance) | — |
SEBS FOAM — frequently asked
What is SEBS FOAM used for?
SEBS FOAM is typically used for soft-touch grips and overmolds, medical tubing compounds, wire and cable jacketing and adhesive formulations. In short: UV-stable SBS replacement; soft-touch overmold standard; shore A 30-90 compounds.
What is the tensile strength of SEBS FOAM?
SEBS FOAM has a typical tensile strength of 2 MPa (0.261 ksi) — weaker than 85% of polymer grades. Strength varies by condition: see the 15 listed tempers.
Is SEBS FOAM easy to machine?
Not especially — machinability is rated poor (20/100, worse than 97% of polymer grades). Poor — the material smears and deflects; die-cutting, waterjet or cryogenic trimming beats milling, and sharp uncoated blades with air blast are required for any cutting.
Can SEBS FOAM be welded?
With care — weldability is rated fair (45/100). No solvent or HF welding; hot-plate and ultrasonic joints are weak, so 2K overmolding, heat staking to a rigid substrate, or cyanoacrylate/hot-melt adhesive after plasma treatment is preferred.
What surface finishes work on SEBS FOAM?
Cannot be painted or plated reliably without adhesion primer; appearance comes from tool texture, in-mold color masterbatch, or anti-tack/soft-touch surface additives to reduce dust pickup.
Can SEBS FOAM be formed, bent or molded?
Injection mold at 190–230 °C melt, 20–50 °C tool, low back pressure and generous gates; dry 2–3 h at 60–70 °C if hygroscopic additives are present, and expect 1–2.5 % shrinkage with 2–3 % typical demold recovery.
What is the maximum service temperature of SEBS FOAM?
SEBS FOAM is rated for continuous use to about 80°C (176 °F), and briefly to 110°C. Strength falls off well before that limit — check the elevated-temperature data for load-bearing parts.
Sources
- Kraton G Series (G1650/G1651/G1652/FG1901) product data sheets — Kraton Corporation (2022)
- SEBS YH-50x series technical data (2023)
- CAMPUS / UL Prospector TPE-S (SEBS) compound datasets — CAMPUS Consortium / UL Solutions (2024)
- Engineered Materials Handbook Vol. 2: Engineering Plastics — thermoplastic elastomers — ASM International (1988)
- ASTM D412 / D624 / D395 / D2240 elastomer test methods — ASTM International (2021)
- SEBS/TPE (2026)
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.