KÖPP GmbH & Co. KG

Cellular polyethylene

Cellular polyethylene is one of the most versatile and cutting-edge cellular materials in terms of application and processing quantity. That is why we produce and sell an enormous range of PE types including cross-linked polyethylene foams with various densities and in many colours and various degrees of softness. 

KÖPP also offers electrically conductive, anti-static and fire resistant qualities of cellular polyethylene. The range includes metallocene qualities, a unique polyamide foam and PE and EVA blends.
 

Cellular polyethylene – the material

All our cellular polyethylene qualities combine the positive properties of a plastic: high ageing stability, high chemical resistance, low emission values, exceptionally uniform density, they are odour-free and suitable for hot forming processes. It comes as no surprise that the possible applications for polyethylene are almost unlimited: from automotive engineering and the packaging sector to countless industrial applications, medical technology and orthopaedics.

In order to meet all our clients’ needs, we offer polyethylene in different qualities, densities and block sizes, and in selected blends. We can supply you the material as blocks, sheets or rolls, processed into strips or punched, moulded or milled parts, with or without a self-adhesive coating.
 

Technical data

• A variety of densities (from 18 kg/m³)
• Low heat conducting values (approx. 0.04 W/mK)
• High resistance to chemical corrosion
• Low fogging. Non-allergenic
• High ageing stability
• Suitable for hot-forming processes
• Highly fire resistant (FR)
• Coloured version also available
• Electrically conductive or anti-static versions available
• Easy to work
• Cost-effective
• High temperature resistance

Materials

LDPE

Low-density polyethylene a closed-cell polyethylene foam that is cross-linked under high pressure. The standard qualities have densities ranging from 18 kg/m³ to 70 kg/m³ and they are available in a wide variety of colours. The range also includes qualities that are highly fire resistant, electrically conductive, static dispersive, and particularly suitable for hot forming.

Thanks to the great variety of options on offer, LDPE foams are used in various sectors, including packaging and the automotive industry, the health sector, medical technology and the construction sector..

HDPE

High-density polyethylene is a closed-cell polyethylene foam that is cross-linked under low pressure. It has densities between 30 kg/m³ and 115 kg/m³. An attractive feature of HDPE foams is their excellent heat resistance.

Their structure is significantly more pressure-resistant and rigid than LDPE, so HDPE foams are the ideal material for technical applications.

EVA

EVA is a closed-cell, cross-linked EVA, available with densities ranging from 25 kg/m³ to 80 kg/m³. EVA foams are more tough and elastic than LDPE foams and they are often used in the area of sports and leisure.

You can choose from a wide range of colours and there is even an electrically conductive (CN) version, too. One of the features of this material is that it has a high return rate (i.e.. a low compression set).

Cellular rubber

Cellular rubber made by KÖPP is the ideal material for sealing, insulating, isolating, damping and rattle prevention. That is why this cost-effective material is used successfully throughout industry. The material can be supplied in blocks, sheets or rolls. It can be punched, milled or customised to your requirements. It is also available in a self-adhesive a self-adhesive version. KOEPPcell® cellular rubber can be processed in many different ways.
 

Cellular rubber - the material

Cellular rubber is a porous, closed-cell rubber quality, which is available in various resistance ratings and densities. It is manufactured using the expansion process. It is based on natural rubber or synthetic rubbers such as EPDM and other elastomers. 

Cellular rubber is airtight and watertight, so it does not need any external skin to be used as a seal (unlike sponge rubber).
Our KOEPPcell® range offers you the following types of cellular rubber and elastomers, with our usual high quality at competitive prices:

• Natural rubber (NR-L, NR-S)
• EPDM (EPDM-L*, EPDM-S*, EPDM-SUW*, EPDM-W*)
  * all also peroxide-cured
• Chloroprene rubber (CR-L, CR-S)
• EPDM-PE blend

Technical data

It meets a huge variety of requirements

As a manufacturer and dealer, we can offer you an outstanding variety of different qualities and resistance levels for you to choose from on the basis of the focus of your application and your requirements. The following are the most important properties:

• Outstanding sealing
• Low thermal conductivity value (≤ W 0.1 W/mK)
• High compressibility
• Good insulating properties
• Low water absorption
• Flexible processing options
• Can be sulphur or peroxide-cured
• High resistance to temperature and ageing(EPDM)
• Highly flame-resistant and oil-resistant (CR/NBR)
• High elasticity (NR)
• Economical, as it comes straight from the manufacturer

Processing methods

Perfect semi-finished products – good news for our customers

We process our own cellular rubber blocks for our processing customers in such a way that they can include them directly in their production procedures. We have a broad selection of machine tools installed, so we are in a position to supply sheets and endless rolls. We can split precisely from 1 mm thicknesses and apply various adhesive coatings on request.

Depending on the application, we can process sheets and rolls for dealers and industrial end users to make cut-outs, punched items, strips and profiles, or we can lathe or mill the material. The material can also be processed using water jet cutters.

Materials

NR

EPDM

CR

NBR

EPDM-PE blend

Applications for cellular rubber

One solution for many markets

Thanks to its reliable performance for sealing, insulating, isolating and padding, KÖPP cellular rubber is to be found in virtually every area of life. This includes the automotive sector, construction, mechanical engineering, and the furniture and textile industries.

Sponge rubber

Our sponge rubber mouldings and profiles are suitable for a multitude of applications throughout industry. The softness, elasticity, surface finish, shape and durability of sponge rubber can be varied to match the requirements of virtually any application. Precision seals, soundproofing panels, flexible supports... the possibilities are endless.

Take a look at our sponge rubber products and you will be amazed how versatile this material is. Our products are reliable and durable, too. Sponge rubber from KÖPP – Unmistakably the best!
 

What is sponge rubber?

Sponge rubber differs from cellular rubber in that it is has a mixed open and closed cell structure. This rubber material has a high compression elasticity and good resilience. 

It is available as natural or synthetic rubber in forms such as chloroprene, EPDM, silicone, Buna or fluorine rubber.

The raw materials used bond particularly well with the special material structure of sponge rubber. At first glance, sponge rubber appears to have the same appearance as cellular rubber. Closer inspection will reveal the difference. Inside, sponge rubber has a mixed open and closed cell structure.
 

Technical data

It differs from cellular rubber also in that it requires the addition of an outer skin if it is to be used for sealing applications. KÖPP sponge rubber profiles and round cords have a high compression elasticity combined with particularly good resilience. 

Under light pressure the profile flexes out to the surrounding surfaces making a perfect seal. The softness of sponge rubber is varied by using special mixes and by varying its volume by weight, i.e. its density. There are two methods for manufacturing sponge rubber profiles: Moulded sponge rubber and extruded sponge rubber profiles.

• Outstanding sealing properties (with skin)
• High compressibility
• Good insulation properties
• Flexible processing options
• Very high abrasion resistance due to closed outer skin
• Mixture with high resistance to temperature  and ageing (EPDM) 
• Mixture with high flame resistance and oil resistance (CR/NBR)

Materials

NR

CR

SBR

NBR

EPDM

HNBR

VMQ

FPM

Processing

Round cord, square and moulded sponge rubber profiles are vulcanised in heated metal moulds. During the vulcanising process, chemical cross-linking takes place and it is this feature which gives sponge rubber is rubbery elastic characteristics. Adding foaming agents creates the cell structure and the final shape of foam rubber. The final shape depends of course on the production mould.

Extruded profiles, on the other hand are not shaped in a closed mould. They are formed by extrusion, that is by forcing a special rubber mixture through a nozzle or die which has the final shape of the finished profile. Vulcanising takes place outside the die at room temperature. 

KÖPP sponge rubber profiles are available in standard lengths as semi-finished products or as ready made parts custom-made to your shape and version requirements.
 

Bonding, cut-outs or punched parts

Sponge rubber round cord, square profile and moulded profile are available in self-adhesive versions ideal for making a clean, durable seal around circular and square openings. This is a tried-and-tested, cost-effective solution for sealing large openings in containers, tanks and casings. 

To make fitting easier, we supply versions which are self-adhesive on one side or both sides.

Sponge rubber sheets are ideal for custom cut-outs or punched items.

Packaging

For the end user, the quality of a product starts with the packaging. The packaging provides information and defines, covers and protects the contents. KÖPP offers its customers unique packaging materials that underline the high quality of the products. We have a huge range of polyethylene qualities with outstanding properties. They are low fogging and thermoformable, and they are available in different thicknesses and colours. Our customers also benefit from the countless processing options we offer for this material: contour cutting, punching, water jet cutting. It is available as sheets, blocks or roll goods, and it can be self-adhesive. 

Our cellular rubber qualities are tried and tested with heavy construction or concrete components, thanks to their high mechanical load capacity and good elasticity.

Transport protection

The staff at the Deutsches Museum and the Louvre certainly know how to transport and store priceless exhibits safely. Many works of art from these museums have already been packaged in our materials. 

Optimum protection and padding are also required for individual components in the automotive sector and other industries, e.g. for expensive electronic equipment, glasses, optical devices such as microscopes and binoculars or display screens.