Marine and outdoor foam is closed-cell polyethylene foam chosen for one reason above all others: it does not absorb water. That makes it the material for flotation boards, surfboard cores, buoyancy elements, pool floats, camping mats and outdoor cushions that live in the weather.
Bofeng Foam manufactures XPE and IXPE foam in Zhuhai, China and supplies it as sheet, laminated board and die-cut shape to marine, watersports and outdoor furniture manufacturers.
What is Marine and Outdoor Foam?
Marine foam is a closed-cell foam with a fully sealed cell structure, so water cannot migrate into the material. Where an open-cell foam would soak up water, gain weight and lose buoyancy, a closed-cell foam keeps its density, its buoyancy and its cushioning in a wet environment.
- Buoyancy — the sealed cells trap gas, so the foam displaces water and floats.
- No water uptake — water absorption is 0.4% or lower, so the material does not get heavier in service.
- Seawater and chemical resistance — IXPE resists seawater, oils, acids and alkalis.
- Weather resistance — closed-cell foam does not rot or support mould growth, and can be laminated with a fabric facing for outdoor upholstery.
Foam Materials for Marine and Outdoor Products
XPE Foam
Chemically cross-linked polyethylene foam, the workhorse grade for flotation boards, pool floats and outdoor cushion cores. Expansion ratio 3–40x, apparent density 26.8–300 kg/m³, single-layer thickness 3–15 mm with laminated builds from 15 to 200 mm, widths 500–2000 mm.
IXPE Foam
Irradiation cross-linked polyethylene foam, made without a chemical cross-linking agent. Single layers from 0.1 mm. Our factory data specifies resistance to water, seawater, oils, acids and alkalis, and describes the material as antibacterial, non-toxic and odourless — properties that matter for products used against the skin in water.
Laminated and Fabric-Faced Foam
Outdoor cushions are built by laminating foam to a fabric or non-woven facing, and thicker flotation boards by thermally bonding several layers — up to 200 mm in XPE. Foam can also be embossed for grip or texture.
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Marine and Outdoor Foam Specifications
| Property | XPE | IXPE |
|---|---|---|
| Cross-linking | Chemical | Irradiation (electron beam) |
| Expansion ratio | 3–40x | 3–40x |
| Apparent density (GB/T 6343) | 26.8–300 kg/m³ | 26.8–300 kg/m³ |
| Single-layer thickness | 3–15 mm | 0.1–15 mm |
| Laminated build | 15–200 mm | 15–200 mm |
| Sheet width | 500–2000 mm | 500–2000 mm |
| Water absorption (GB/T 1034) | ≤0.4% | ≤0.4% |
| Chemical resistance | Water and moisture | Water, seawater, oils, acids and alkalis |
| Compression set, 23±2 °C / 22 h (GB/T 6669) | ≤10% | — |
Outdoor cushions are built by laminating foam to a fabric or non-woven facing, and thicker flotation boards by thermally bonding several layers. Foam can be embossed for grip or texture.
Marine and Outdoor Foam Products We Make
- Swimming flotation board foam
- Surfboard foam
- Pool bed float
- Lifejacket foam
- Camping mat
- Outdoor foam cushions
- Garden kneeling pad
- Outdoor rugs
An Important Safety Boundary
Bofeng Foam supplies foam as a buoyancy material. We do not manufacture, rate or certify finished lifejackets, personal flotation devices or any other safety equipment, and we make no claim about the performance of a finished device.
Buoyancy rating, performance testing, certification and marking of a finished flotation device are the responsibility of the manufacturer of that device, under the rules of the market it is sold in. We supply the foam to the density, thickness and shape that device manufacturer specifies.
Why Choose Bofeng Foam as Your Foam Supplier?
Bofeng Foam operates five production lines with an annual capacity of 5,000 tonnes from 10,000 m² of workshops in Zhuhai, China. Foam is produced, laminated and cut in-house, so a flotation or outdoor cushion specification is made end to end by one supplier.
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Marine and Outdoor Foam FAQ
What foam is used for flotation and buoyancy?
Closed-cell cross-linked polyethylene foam — XPE for flotation boards and pool floats, IXPE where a thinner, denser layer is needed. The sealed cell structure is what keeps the foam from taking on water and losing buoyancy over time.
Does XPE foam absorb water?
Water absorption is 0.4% or lower, measured by GB/T 1034. That is why closed-cell foam is used where an open-cell foam would soak up water, gain weight and stop floating.
Can Bofeng Foam certify a lifejacket or flotation device?
No. We supply the foam as a buoyancy material only. Rating, testing, certification and marking of a finished flotation device are the responsibility of the device manufacturer.
Related Reading
See also: Flotation foam: density, buoyancy and marine use · Sports & fitness foam · All cross-linked foam materials · Contact Bofeng Foam