Sheet in Frisylen BNL 1000x500 mm brown

Sheet in Frisylen BNL is a cross-linked polyethylene foam with a closed cell structure. The material combines low weight with good damping, and the surface is even enough to be laminated or taped to other materials without pretreatment.

The closed cell structure gives two practical properties at once. Water and moisture do not get into the foam, so the sheet keeps its shape and its damping even when it is exposed to wet or condensation. At the same time the material absorbs shock in a way open foam never does, because the air has to be pressed out through the cell walls instead of disappearing straight away.

Frisylen BNL is pliable and easy to shape with a knife, a band saw or a water jet cutter. Thicker sheets are die cut. The material welds to itself with hot air, and the BNL grade has a slightly firmer cell structure than the softest polyethylene foams, which makes it suitable where dimensional stability under load matters more than maximum softness.

Typical areas of use are inserts in transport crates and flight cases, damping around sensitive electronics, gaskets in housings and covers that do not sit against chemicals, and seals against dust or draft. The foam is also used as flotation material in life vests and buoys thanks to its closed cell structure.

Chemically Frisylen BNL takes most water based media, weak acids and bases, and some solvents. Long exposure to gasoline, aromatic solvents and strong oxidizers should be avoided, since the foam can swell or soften. UV resistance is limited without surface protection, so the sheet is best placed indoors or in a sheltered spot outdoors.

During machining the material heats up in the kerf, but since polyethylene has a low melting temperature Frisylen BNL does not take soldering or continuous work next to hot surfaces above 70 to 80 degrees. For joints, contact adhesive, double sided tape or hot air welding is used. The adhesive needs to be intended for polyolefins, or else a primer is needed to get a grip on the low surface energy.

The sheet is supplied in standard formats and can be cut to size here if you want finished inserts or gaskets. Remember that the thickness compresses under load, so when dimensioning you normally count on the foam compressing 20 to 40 percent under continuous load. Build in a little extra thickness if the damping property has to remain for the whole life of the product.

Do you need help choosing the right grade between BNL, SP, JN 480 and XL 75? Get in touch and we will go through density, damping and dimensional stability against your application. This product, Frisylen BNL 1000x500 mm brown, has the format 1000x500 mm, which makes it easy to place into an existing structure.