Kewell Converters Ltd go beyond standard ranges to produce foam goods for niche markets which require a highly-specialised foam raw materials.
Zotek®Peba foam
The ultra-light closed-cell cross linked foam from Zotefoams plc, using the polymer Pebax®., a thermoplastic elastomer from Arkema in France. It was previously marketed under the name Pebaxfoam.
It has countless benefits, making it perfect for use in the footwear, sports, medical and protective gear sectors. Indeed, it's favoured by the world beaters, Timberland.
Zotek®Peba foam combines a soft feel with elasticity, excellent cushioning and impact protection, anti-slip and anti-friction properties. It functions well in low temperatures and is tear and abrasion resistant. It's waterproof, UV stable and it's possible to opt for breathable or bio-based versions.
Key benefits of ZOTEK®PEBA foam
- Ultra light weight
- Excellent energy return
- Soft touch / comfort
- Outstanding properties at low temperature
- Good cushioning
- Anti-slip / high friction
- Outstanding shape recovery
- Impact protection
- Elasticity
- Good thermal insulation
- Superior tear resistance
- Abrasion resistance
- Low compression set
- Easy to thermoform and over-mould
- Waterproof
- UV stable
- Breathable (option grade)
- Bio Based (option grade)
MicroZOTE®
Also produced by Zotefoams, MicroZOTE, as its name suggests, has microscopically-small and consistent cell sizes, and it has a sealed surface.
It's a closed-cell, non-crosslinked, microcellular, polyolefin roll foam, formed using revolutionary MuCell® extrusion technology, which uses carbon dioxide or nitrogen to foam materials in a one-stage process with no need of blowing agents which could leave a residue.
MicroZOTE has a wide range of uses in many sectors - for seals, gaskets and adhesive tapes, military equipment and for many uses in the field of construction, the pharmaceutical, leisure, automotive and food industries.
Bulpren®, Filtren®, Firend® and Dryfeel® filter foams
These, KCL use when required to make filter components for a variety of applications. The foam, to be effective in its function, has to have consistently sized and perfectly calibrated cells.
The foam filters are used in a range of environments - for example, car air filters, air conditioning, vacuum cleaners, water filtration and the filtration of metals in foundries
SunMate foam
This foam is favoured for cushions where seating comfort is a top consideration, as in wheelchairs, but also in the challenging high-speed world of military and civil aircraft, racing cars and motorbikes.
It is beautifully soft yet has high impact energy absorption. Pressure is distributed evenly for comfort and it has a slow spring-back, gradually returning to its original shape once pressure is released.
ROHACELL® structural foam
From a company called Evonik, this foam is used extensively where weight is an issue in the construction of parts and products. It's made with polymethacrylimide (PMI) and often used in aerospace and aviation projects, and for medical technology. A specific example of its use is as a core between Carbon Fibre Reinforced Plastic (CFRP) facings.