Views: 0 Author: Site Editor Publish Time: 2025-12-10 Origin: Site
PET Foam Core — made from polyethylene terephthalate (PET) — is a closed-cell thermoplastic structural foam, designed for sandwich-structure composites. Its core advantages include:
Excellent mechanical performance: high compressive strength and shear modulus.
High temperature stability: can withstand ~150 °C during processing and ~100 °C during long-term service.
Closed-cell, low water absorption → moisture & chemical resistance — useful in marine, transportation, and outdoor applications.
Fully recyclable / eco-friendly: many PET foam cores can be made from recycled PET, and scraps/chips are reusable.
Wide compatibility with resins and manufacturing methods: works with epoxy, vinyl ester, polyester resins, and processes like infusion, RTM, hand lay-up, prepreg, etc.
Good strength-to-weight & fatigue resistance: giving you durable lightweight sandwich structures — critical for wind blades, marine hulls, transportation, and structural panels.
Because of these traits, PET foam is increasingly seen as a better alternative to traditional PVC foam core — not just in terms of performance, but also sustainability and lifecycle benefits.
PET Foam Core vs PVC Foam Core — What You Need to Know
Before choosing a core material, you may have compared PET foam core with PVC foam core. Here’s a clear comparison to help you quickly understand which material works better for your application.
Property | PET Foam Core | PVC Foam Core |
Compressive Strength | Higher at same density; stiffer structure | Lower; may creep under load |
Shear Strength & Modulus | Better fatigue and anti-creep performance | Adequate for basic industrial use |
Long-term Stability | Stable under temperature and cyclic loads | Softens at elevated temperatures |
Takeaway for you:
If your structure requires stiffness, heat resistance, or long-term fatigue strength (wind, marine, transport), PET is usually the better choice.
PET can withstand:
Processing temperatures up to 150 °C
Service temperatures up to 100 °C
PVC, in contrast:
Softens around 80–90 °C
Not suitable for high-temperature processes like vacuum infusion, RTM, prepreg curing, or hot-press laminates.
Takeaway:
If your production involves heat, PET is safer and more reliable.
Feature | ||
Closed-cell Structure | Excellent; very low water uptake | Good, but more permeable |
Chemical Resistance | Strong to moisture, solvents, cleaning chemicals | Moderate |
Hydrolysis Resistance | Very good | Moderate |
Takeaway:
For marine, wet environments, or outdoor applications, PET is more suitable.
PET foam is recyclable and can be produced from recycled PET bottles.
PVC foam contains chlorine, cannot be easily recycled, and is less environmentally friendly.
Takeaway:
If sustainability or ESG compliance matters, PET is the preferred option.
Both PET and PVC can work with epoxy, polyester, or vinyl ester resins.
PET, however, tolerates higher temperatures and exothermic reactions, reducing the risk of core melting, shrinking, or softening.
PVC is slightly cheaper and historically used in basic marine or construction panels.
PET used to be more expensive, but prices are now closer, offering better thermal performance, recyclability, and supply stability.
Category | ||
Mechanical Strength | ⭐⭐⭐⭐ | ⭐⭐⭐ |
Thermal Resistance | ⭐⭐⭐⭐ up to 150 °C | ⭐⭐ ~80–90 °C |
Moisture Resistance | ⭐⭐⭐⭐ | ⭐⭐⭐ |
Sustainability | ⭐⭐⭐⭐ recyclable | ⭐ low |
Resin Compatibility | ⭐⭐⭐⭐ | ⭐⭐⭐ |
Price | ⭐⭐⭐ | ⭐⭐⭐⭐ (slightly lower) |
Best For | Wind, marine, transportation, structural panels | Basic marine, sports, small industrial parts |
JLon Composite (China / Global)
Provides stable, customizable PET foam cores for European and global markets. Competitive pricing, flexible logistics, sustainable materials, and supports RTM-Light, vacuum infusion, prepreg, and hand lay-up processes.
Armacell (Luxembourg)
Offers ArmaPET and ArmaForm PET foam cores made from recycled PET, with an extensive product range suitable for various composite applications.
DIAB Group (Sweden)
Divinycell PET foam has a long-established presence in marine, wind energy, and industrial applications, offering reliable and consistent performance.
3A Composites — AIREX® (Switzerland)
Widely adopted PET cores for marine, transportation, and industrial panels, with strong adaptability to different applications.
Gurit (Switzerland)
Specializes in PET core solutions for wind energy, providing high-performance, application-specific materials.
Note:
JLon Composite, as a global supplier, although headquartered in China, has strong supply capacity for Europe. Its advantages include customization, competitive pricing, fast lead time, and sustainable PET foam, making it an ideal partner for European companies.
JLon can provide flexible thickness, density, CNC cutting, and project-specific technical support.
Focus on:
Required density & mechanical properties
Compatibility with resin system & process
Temperature & thermal resistance
Moisture / chemical resistance
Sustainability / recyclability
Lead time, supply reliability, and customization
Price-performance balance
PET Foam Core is now a preferred sandwich material because of its strength, heat resistance, moisture resistance, and sustainability.
Europe has a mix of established suppliers and emerging players. Meanwhile, JLon Composite offers you a cost-effective, reliable, and global PET foam solution, making it easier for you to achieve high-performance and sustainable composites for wind, marine, transportation, construction, or industrial applications.
