Neolon XPE Foam

Features & Benefits

Superior Buoyancy

Neolon XPE meets the National Standard for Commercial Vessels (NSCV) meaning it is approved for use in commercial vessels. PJ Bowers recommends the use of Neolon XPE as marine buoyancy in all vessels for piece of mind.

Chemical Resistance

Neolon XPE has a high resistance to chemicals due to being a closed cell, cross-linked polymer producing a highly durable and resilient foam.

Fire Retardancy

Testing resulted in a spread of flame index of 0/10, a heat evolved index of 0/10 and a smoke developed index of 2/10.

Neolon XPE with foil face is CE certified to ISO 4589-3.2017.

Thermal Insulation

Tested in accordance with ISO 8302.1991, Neolon XPE is a highly efficient insulation foam appropriate for all environments where an elevated thermal resistivity is necessary.

Long-Lasting

Tested at UNSW, Neolon XPE displayed no evidence of significant changes in the mechanical properties after being exposed to accelerated weathering conditions for an approximated equivalence of 20-years real-life outdoor aging.

a close up photograph of the Neolon XPE cut into a length of compression joint for bridge construction, you can see the cells of the foam

What is Neolon XPE used for?

Bridge foam compression joint, expansion joint, product image thumbnail

Construction

PJ Bowers supplies and manufactures high quality construction foams from Neolon XPE used in bridge and road construction such as compressible fillers and expansion joints.

Construction certifications include Transport and Main Roads Specifications MRTS77 Bridge Deck, and RT3204, Preformed Joint Fillers.

Insulation

Neolon XPE is has excellent thermal properties and suitable for use in roofs, wall cavities or floors.

Available in sheets, rolls or tubes Neolon XPE is also available with a foil face providing outstanding deflection of external heat.

Neolon XPE foam a thick slab shown floating on water to represent its application and certification for buoyancy of vessels

Buoyancy (Floatation)

Neolon XPE foam is NATA certified and commonly used as a superior buoyancy foam which floats 973kg per cubic meter.

Other benefits as a buoyancy foam include high resistance to water and chemicals such as petrol, fire retardance and longevity.

Packaging

Neolon XPE is a superior packaging foam due to its high mechanical strength with good rebound, moisture and chemical resistance, thermal insulation and longevity.

Applications include packaging of high value products such as electronic devices and instruments used in high impact environments such as mining, aerospace and industrial transport.

Technical Specifications of Neolon XPE (Crosslinked Polyethylene)

Testing & Conformance

JIS K-6767(Japanese Industrial Standards)
ASTM D 3575 (International)
VicLab - Independent Testing Australia
ISO 8302.1991 (Thermal Resistance Values)

Icon

property

Result

25kg/m3

(With bonded foil face)

0.546m²K/W @ 20mm thick
0.28m²K/W @ 10mm thick

-30dB @ 100Hz
-5dB @ 630Hz
-27dB @ 2000Hz
-23dB @ 5000Hz

13 JIS Type C

(Foam is submerged underwater for 48 hours)

0.00009g/cm2

973kg/m3

Operating Temperature
(Without distortion of the foam)

Minimum: -70, Maximum +189 Degrees Celsius (melting point)

Dimensional Change
(After temperature cycling and chemical submersions)

Length -2%, Width +0.5% (22 hours at 70 Degrees Celsius)
-1.35% (Heat cycled -30 to +65 Degrees Celsius)
-1.4% (14 days under high octane fuel)
-0.01% (30 days under 5% Bilge Cleaner Solution)

Tensile Strength

210 KPa

125 KPa

(length @ break)

185% Length
134% Thickness

(Compression Deflection)
(Force required to compress 25% of a 25mm thick cylinder foam piece)

37KPa

Compression Set
(Percentage of the original thickness after being compressed 50% for 72 hours and then recovered for 24 hours)

11%

Chemical Resistance testing of Neolon XPE (Crosslinked Polyethylene)

Test results are from a NATA accredited laboratory

Chemical

Weight Change

Dimension Change

Buoyancy Change

Compliance

10 temperature cycles and Hi Octane Petroleum (7 Days)

-6%

-1.4%

+2.73% (Day 1)
-6.17% (Day 7)

Yes

100mm under crude oil (14 Days)

+5%

+0.5%

Yes

100mm under marine fuel oil (grade C) (14 Days)

+3.5%

+0.8%

+1.11%

Yes

100mm under diesel oil (14 Days)

+4%

+0.2%

-1.84%

Yes

100mm under high octane petroleum (14 Days)

+2%

+6%

+2.22%

Yes

100mm under kerosene (14 Days)

+1%

+5%

+2.73%

Yes

Bilge Cleaner 5% (30 Days)

-1%

-0.57%

Yes

Petrol (30 Days)

+6%

+13%

-4.49%

Yes

Oil (30 Days)

+8%

+0.8%

-2.24%

Yes

Standard Purchasing Options for Neolon XPE (Crosslinked Polyethylene)

Available Technologies

• StickBack adhesive
• Foil insulation layer

Colours

Medium Grey

Sheet options

Thickness

Size

Weight

20mm

2400mm (length) x 1200mm (width)

1.4Kg

25mm

2400mm (length) x 1200mm (width)

1.8Kg

50mm

2400mm (length) x 1200mm (width)

3.6Kg

100mm

2400mm (length) x 1200mm (width)

7.2Kg

Full Roll options

Thickness

Size

Weight

Stickyback or Foilfaced

5mm

1200mm (width) x 25 meters (length)

7Kg

5mm

1200mm (width) x 25 meters (length)

8Kg

Foilfaced

5mm

1200mm (width) x 50 meters (length)

11Kg

Foilfaced

5mm

1200mm (width) x 50 meters (length)

12Kg

Stickyback & Foilfaced

10mm

1200mm (width) x 25 meters (length)

10Kg

10mm

1200mm (width) x 25 meters (length)

10Kg

Stickyback

10mm

1200mm (width) x 25 meters (length)

10Kg

Foilfaced

10mm

1200mm (width) x 25 meters (length)

12Kg

Stickyback & Foilfaced

15mm

1200mm (width) x 25 meters (length)

17Kg

Foilfaced

15mm

1200mm (width) x 25 meters (length)

18Kg

Stickyback & Foilfaced

20mm

1200mm (width) x 12.5 meters (length)

12Kg

Stickyback

25mm

1200mm (width) x 25 meters (length)

20Kg

Stickyback & Foilfaced

Dimensional Drawing

L = Length, W = Width, T = Thickness

A dimension drawing showing the standard sizing of the foam sheet

a dimensional drawing showing the sizing of a large full roll of Neolon XPE

Certifications

Fire retardancy

ASTM 1530.3, BS EN ISO 4589 3:2017

Construction Certification

NATA 14722, MRTS77, RTA 3204

Marine Certification

NATA 14722

Downloads

Technical Data Sheet

Technical Data Sheet - Full Rolls

Chemical Resistance Data

Installing Buoyancy Foam - Domestic Commercial Vessels

Health & Safety Information

Neolon XPE foam is also available as:

Foil Faced

An optional foil thermal insulation face which deflects heat sources often used in marine, construction, air conditioning and automotive applications.

StickyBack

An optional adhesive backing acts as an extra set of hands to hold foams in place. Available by custom order on just about any of our foams.

Custom Cut-to-Size
Expansion Joints

Tell us the size you require and we will make your expansion joint to suit your specifications.

BridgeFoam

An off the shelf, construction certified, bridge expansion joint available in Neolon XPE or open cell foam.

Learn more

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Marine Buoyancy Foam

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Neolon XPE

Features & Benefits

Superior Buoyancy

Chemical Resistance

Fire Retardancy

Thermal Insulation

Long-Lasting

What is Neolon XPE used for?

Construction

Insulation

Buoyancy (Floatation)

Packaging

Technical Specifications of Neolon XPE (Crosslinked Polyethylene)

Testing & Conformance

Icon

property

Result

Chemical Resistance testing of Neolon XPE (Crosslinked Polyethylene)

Chemical

Weight Change

Dimension Change

Buoyancy Change

Compliance

Standard Purchasing Options for Neolon XPE (Crosslinked Polyethylene)

Available Technologies

Colours

Sheet options

Thickness

Size

Weight

Full Roll options

Thickness

Size

Weight

Stickyback or Foilfaced

Dimensional Drawing

Certifications

Fire retardancy

Construction Certification

Marine Certification

Downloads

Neolon XPE foam is also available as:

Foil Faced

StickyBack

Custom Cut-to-Size Expansion Joints

BridgeFoam

Articles

Zotefoams - Australian Distributor Announced

PJ Bowers goes rampant

Engineered & Specialty Foams

Marine Buoyancy Foam

Contact Us or Request a Quote

We want to help make your next project, the best one yet!

Custom Cut-to-Size
Expansion Joints