What is EVA foam material ?
It is a material made from a lightweight, porous type of plastic that has a foamy, flexible structure.
It is available in a wide range of colors and textures.
EVA rubber, also chemically known as ethylene-vinyl acetate, is a thermoplastic polymer. It is flexible, moldable and changes its shape at high temperatures. Because it can be combined with any surface or material, it is mostly known under its foamy form.
It is one of the most widely used materials for crafts and handicrafts since it offers many economic and use advantages.
It has many characteristics that make it useful for a bunch of tasks. One of them being that it is a non-toxic material, this is why so many activities for children imply the use of EVA foam. In addition, it is recyclable, moldable, washable and does not stain anything. It is a very light material, super easy to transport, use and it has some properties making it waterproof.
It became so popular during the past years that it can now be found in different shapes, types, colors, sizes, thicknesses and qualities.
What is EVA foam used for ?
EVA foam sheets are used in various applications and creations. Its most popular uses are for handicrafts, DIY and in creative school activities as well as games for childrens.
Art
It is also widely used in the art world, as it is a material with which costumes, cosplays, accessories and theatrical scenery can be made easily.
Orthopedics
In the healthcare sector, it can be found in orthopedics as a filling for prosthesis or soles.
Electronics
Similarly it is used to make cases for electronic devices such as laptops or tablets, as it can protect them. Many headsets also incorporate this material in the ear area to make it more comfy.
Moreover, EVA foam is also widely used for the decoration of shop windows and for the manufacturing of toys, as well as in commercial fields such as footwear, where most shoe soles are made of foamy.
In addition, this material is also the headliner in Foamy Art, an art method that has been evolving in recent years and consists of using foamy for professional works, such as scenographies (theatre design) for schools or for small or large-scale exhibitions.
What are the advantages of EVA foam ?
EVA rubber is a material that, as we mentioned before, has many benefits. It is moldable, lightweight, easy to wash and non-toxic. It has no sharp edges or corners making it a safe material for children to play with and develop their creativity while crafting.
Another of its benefits is that its shape can be changed pretty easily, it can be cut, painted, sewn, glued, used as die-cut, etc… In addition, the fact that it is really light makes it suitable for very large-scale creative projects, such as scenographies.
Moreover, one of its most outstanding properties is that it can be reused once it has fulfilled its function. It can be remolded as many times as wanted. For instance, EVA foam that has been used for a costume that is going to be worn only once, could be transformed into decorations for DIY.
All types of EVA foam
There are different types of EVA rubber that vary in density, texture, color and use. Here are some of the most common types you can find :
Soft EVA foam sheets
This is the most common type and is used in a wide variety of crafts and decorating projects. It could be considered its most “typical” “or normal” form and use.
EVA glitter foam sheets
Exactly the same as plain EVA sheets, the only difference is that it has glitter in it, which makes it perfect for shiny crafts and decorations.
Waved EVA foam
If you buy this type of sheet, you will find it thicker, but not as thick and rough as the towel-textured type. This one is not only found as a crafting material, it is also used to protect the drawers and shelves of the kitchen. Because of its wavy surface, it is also harder to cut.
Towel EVA foam
These sheets texture can remind of bath towels. They are very spongy and much thicker and rougher than the soft ones. Obviously they don’t cut as easily as the soft or glitter sheets but managing to do it, is not too much of a problem either. They are often used to simulate grass.
Metallic EVA foam
It has a shinier effect than the other types and reminds a bit of patent leather although it has a more metallic appearance just like gift wrap paper. It is mostly used for crafts and decoration.
Thermoforming EVA foam
This type of rubber can be molded with heat which makes it suitable for 3D modeling projects and decorations.
EVA adhesive foam sheets
Those sheets are the same as plain sheets, they just have an adhesive layer on either one or both sides for easy attachment to other surfaces.
What kind of products are made of this material ?
In our case, for merchandising, EVA foam is present above all in nautical floating keychains, which is curiously one of our best-sellers, we created it ourselves and have been selling them for years. They are highly demanded products, especially in the boating sector.
We customized them by screen-printing the logo of our customers to obtain brilliant results. Another product we offer that is also made of EVA foam are personalized flip-flops for the beach.
Basically EVA foam can have many uses, in fact, these are only a few examples of what can be done with this material. The more types and shapes of foamy, the more possibility.
What techniques are best to print foamy ?
The best techniques for a long-lasting outcome with EVA foam are screen printing and pad printing. Both give very good results at a fairly low cost.
Screen printing
This is one of the most traditional methods, by creating a stencil on a mesh screen and then pushing the ink to create and imprint the design on the below surface.
Thanks to this process, it is possible to achieve greater durability and a good finish on any material.
Pad printing
It is a technique that allows transferring an image to products with a variety of surfaces, using a silicone or rubber pad.
It is perfect for small areas and very specific details and can be used for a variety of materials.
Differences between EVA foam and rubber
Rubber and EVA rubber, although similar, are two distinct materials with their own properties and characteristics.
EVA rubber
Synthetic material
Soft, flexible and elastic
Less resistant
Easy to cut and shape
Wide variety of colors and design options
Rubber
Either natural or synthetic
Generally denser and solid and even more elastic
Very resistant
Molds and cuts with difficulty
Color and design quite limited
In short, rubber is a solid material, which is mainly used in industrial applications such as the manufacturing of tires and stamps.
On the other hand, EVA rubber, which is softer and less resistant, is commonly used for crafts and decorations. EVA foam also offers a wider variety of colors and designs and is easy to cut and shape.
Conclusion
To sum up, EVA foam is a soft, flexible and synthetic material, commonly used for handicrafts, DIY and decorating projects, especially because of how simple it is to cut and mold. This is also why children use it a lot at school.
As mentioned, there are several types for every need and results you want to give to your creativity.
Finally, it is a versatile and easy-to-use material that offers a variety of different designs and colors, making it a popular choice among people of all ages.
