Foam tape and gasket foam is closed-cell polyethylene foam supplied with an adhesive coating, or die-cut into a gasket shape. It seals gaps, damps vibration, mounts components and closes the joint between two surfaces that do not fit perfectly — which is exactly what a compressible closed-cell foam does well.
Bofeng Foam manufactures XPE, PE and IXPE foam in Zhuhai, China and supplies it adhesive-coated on a release liner, laminated with foil or fabric, and die-cut to a drawing for industrial, automotive, electronics and building applications.
What is Foam Tape and Gasket Foam?
Foam tape is a foam carrier with an adhesive layer on one or both faces. Gasket foam is the same material die-cut or profiled to the shape of the joint it seals. In both cases the foam's job is to compress under load and spring back, keeping the seal closed despite vibration, thermal movement and imperfect mating surfaces.
- Sealing — the closed cell structure blocks air, dust and water, and does not absorb it.
- Vibration damping — foam isolates panels and components from structure-borne noise.
- Gap filling — compressible foam takes up the tolerance between two surfaces.
- Mounting and cushioning — adhesive foam holds light components in place while cushioning them.
Foam Materials for Tape and Gasket Applications
XPE Foam
Chemically cross-linked polyethylene foam and the standard gasket and tape carrier. Expansion ratio 3–40x, density 26.8–300 kg/m³, single-layer thickness 3–15 mm, widths 500–2000 mm. Compression set is 10% or lower at 23 °C over 22 hours, which is what keeps a gasket sealing over repeated cycles.
IXPE Foam
Irradiation cross-linked polyethylene foam with single layers from 0.1 mm — the grade for thin tape carriers and precision die-cut gaskets. It resists water, oils, acids and alkalis, and flame-retardant grades with a limiting oxygen index of 27 are available.
PE Foam
Non-cross-linked polyethylene foam — softer, lighter and more economical, used for lower-duty sealing, packaging and cushioning. See the materials hub for how it compares with the cross-linked grades.
Adhesive Coating and Laminating
Foam is coated with a solvent-based adhesive protected by a release liner, on one or both faces. It can also be laminated with aluminium foil for a vapour barrier, with non-woven fabric, or with film. Multi-layer thermal bonding is available up to 200 mm (IXPP up to 100 mm).
View laminated foam capabilities →
Foam Tape and Gasket 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 |
| Compression set, 23±2 °C / 22 h (GB/T 6669) | ≤10% | — |
| Water absorption (GB/T 1034) | ≤0.4% | ≤0.4% |
| Adhesive coating | One or both faces, solvent-based, release liner | One or both faces, solvent-based, release liner |
| Laminating options | Aluminium foil, non-woven, film | Aluminium foil, non-woven, film |
A softer, non-cross-linked PE foam is also available for lower-duty sealing and cushioning, and is described on the materials hub. An optional flame-retardant grade with a limiting oxygen index of 27 is available across the cross-linked range.
Label-Grade IXPE Foam Tape
This is a single-specification label-grade IXPE foam, supplied as a roll 1070 mm wide × 300 m long. It comes in four thicknesses — 0.5, 0.6, 0.7 and 0.8 mm — at 8x and 10x expansion, in black or white. Converters slit the roll down to the sheets a label, a lamination or a die-cut part needs.
| Property | Unit | 0.5 mm | 0.6 mm | 0.7 mm | 0.8 mm | Test method |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Thickness (range) | mm | 0.5 (0.45–0.55) | 0.6 (0.54–0.66) | 0.7 (0.63–0.77) | 0.8 (0.72–0.88) | GB/T 6342 |
| Expansion ratio (range) | — | 8 (7–9) | 10 (9–12) | 10 (9–12) | 10 (9–12) | GB/T 6342 |
| Density (range) | kg/m³ | 125 (111–142) | 100 (83–112) | 100 (83–112) | 100 (83–112) | GB/T 6343 |
| Colour | — | Black / white | Black | Black | Black | Visual |
| Tensile strength | MPa | MD 1.4 / TD 1.2 | MD 1.2 / TD 1.0 | MD 1.2 / TD 1.0 | MD 1.2 / TD 1.0 | GB/T 528 |
| Elongation at break | % | MD 150 / TD 160 | MD 150 / TD 145 | MD 130 / TD 130 | MD 130 / TD 130 | GB/T 528 |
| Hardness | Shore C | 47±8 | 40±8 | 40±8 | 40±8 | GB/T 531 |
| Recommended constant use, max | °C | 70 | 70 | 70 | 70 | — |
Storage: keep below 35 °C, away from heat sources and open flame, out of high humidity and direct sunlight, and protect the roll from being crushed or scored by hard or sharp objects. Prolonged high temperature makes the foam tacky.
Note: the tensile strength, elongation and hardness in this table are tested to GB/T 528 and GB/T 531, the rubber test methods. These are not the same methods as the GB/T 6344 and GB/T 2411 figures in the table above, so the two sets of values are not directly comparable.
Foam Tape and Gasket Products We Make
- Industrial tape foam
- Automotive tape foam
- PV tape foam
- Medical tape foam
- Foam gasket
- Door and window caulking foam
How to Specify a Foam Tape or Gasket
- Compression. The foam must compress enough to seal but retain enough thickness to keep the load. Higher-density XPE in the 5x to 15x range is used where the gasket has to carry a real sealing force.
- Compression set. For joints that open and close, the low compression set of cross-linked foam — 10% or lower — is the property that keeps the seal working.
- Thickness. Single-layer XPE runs 3–15 mm and IXPE from 0.1 mm; thicker builds are laminated, up to 200 mm in XPE.
- Adhesive. One face, both faces, or none. Adhesive chemistry is matched to the substrate and confirmed per project — tell us what the foam is bonding to.
- Shape. Gaskets are die-cut or routed to a drawing, in sheet form or on a roll.
Why Choose Bofeng Foam as Your Foam Tape Manufacturer?
Bofeng Foam operates five production lines with an annual capacity of 5,000 tonnes from 10,000 m² of workshops in Zhuhai, China. The foam, the adhesive coating and the die-cutting are all handled in-house, so a tape or gasket specification is qualified and reproduced by one supplier.
Request a foam tape or gasket sample →
Ordering information
| Item | What we supply |
|---|---|
| Minimum order | 1,000 m² for standard rolls and sheets; custom parts are quoted individually from the drawing |
| Lead time | 15–20 days from order confirmation |
| Samples | A4 sheet, free of charge, shipping included |
| Supply forms | adhesive-coated roll, double-sided tape, die-cut gasket |
Foam Tape and Gasket FAQ
What is the difference between foam tape and gasket foam?
They are the same closed-cell foam. Foam tape is supplied as a strip or roll with an adhesive coating; gasket foam is die-cut or profiled to the exact shape of the joint. Both rely on the foam compressing under load and recovering.
Which foam is best for a compression gasket?
Cross-linked XPE in the mid-density range, because its compression set is 10% or lower at 23 °C over 22 hours — the foam keeps its thickness after repeated compression instead of flattening and leaking.
Can Bofeng Foam supply foam tape with adhesive on both sides?
Yes. Foam can be coated on one or both faces with a solvent-based adhesive under a release liner, and supplied in sheet, roll or die-cut form.
Related Reading
See also: Foam tape guide: carriers, adhesives and selection · Automotive foam · All cross-linked foam materials · Contact Bofeng Foam