What raw material and additives should be used for making EPE mats? Is it convenient to buy abroad?
The whole set of equipment for producing EPE mat includes: EPE sheet extruder, EPE bonding machine (or EPE thickening machine) , extruded lamination machine, EPE cutting machine, EPE sewing machine and EPE recycling machine. Altogether 6 machines.
The main raw material used for making EPE sheet is high pressure low density polyethylene resin (LDPE). The one whose melting flow index is between 1.8 and 2.8 can be used for making EPE sheet. As for this kind of raw material, as long as the country has petroleum smelting industry, it sells this. For example, you can buy it in China, the USA, Russia, Brazil, Iran, Malaysia, etc.
Additives for making EPE sheet:
1. Butane (C4H10). The process of instant expansion that butane changes from liquid to gas can expand the melted LDPE into EPE sheet. (If you don’t have butane, you can use methane, propane or LPG).
2. GMS—- (Glycerol Monostearate). GMS melts to liquid and is mixed with the raw material, its function is anti-shrinking.
3. Talcum Powder (or talcum master batch). It is used to adjust the cell size of the EPE sheet.
4. Colorful PE film. For making the mats, we need PE film with various patterns such as cartoons, flowers, letters, etc. (If you want to buy it from China, we can introduce good film suppliers to you).
5. Ribbons. Ribbons are used to protect the mats’ PE film surface from being separated from the sheet. (If you want to buy it from China, we can introduce good film suppliers to you).
6. Aluminized film. In some countries, one side of the mat surface is colorful PE film while the other side is aluminized film which is moisture-proof and thermal insulation. It can also be used as for picnic and on the beach. (If you want to buy it from China, we can introduce good film suppliers to you).
