If you’re looking for a foam that combines protective performance with high-quality aesthetics, you should strongly consider Microlen.
Microlen® foam – a cross-linked polyethylene material – combines exceptional durability with structural flexibility, making it remarkably easy to shape and fabricate into custom components. It comes in a range of grades, densities and specialist options. As well as impressive strength-to-weight ratio and shape recovery after impact, its very fine, uniform cell structure makes its surfaces non-abrasive and provides a high-quality appearance.
As one of the largest sellers of Microlen® material and converted products in the UK, Polyformes can help regardless of your industry, application or requirements. Our in-house experts can advise on the best grade (or alternative foam material) to ensure you benefit from the optimal solution.
Microlen polyolefin foam is available in an extensive range of densities, spanning from 30 to 180 kg/m³.
The product range is categorised by its core polymer formulations to target specific physical traits. The PE grades, available from Polyformes, denote standard high-performance cross-linked polyethylene. EV (ethylene-vinyl acetate) and COA (copolymer) materials are available on request.
Microlen® is also available in specialised flame-retardant (FR) formulations. Recycled (EB) and Bio-polymer (EG) are also available in a limited range of densities. Please speak with a foam expert at Polyformes for further information if required.
For further details regarding individual material grades, please view the specific pages/datasheets.
Polyformes can split/skive, laminate and butt-weld Microlen material to the specific dimensions you require. You can also select skin or cell finishes. MOQs may apply to certain size/material options.
Please get in touch with a member of our team to discuss your requirements.
The majority of Microlen grades are suitable for conversion using the following processes:
Please note that not all colours are available in all grades. Please view the individual material pages for full availability.
Due to individual display settings, the colours you see on your screen may vary slightly from the actual material colour.
Black
White
Blue
Red
Orange
Yellow
These additional colours are also available, but subject to higher minimum order quantities (MOQs).
Green
Pink
Microlen material offers the following beneficial properties:

Microlen is a high-quality, closed-cell polyethylene (PE) foam that is cross-linked under high pressure and temperature. This specialised manufacturing process creates a very fine, dense, and uniform cell structure. It is popular for its lightweight, robust, highly elastic, and water-repellent properties.
Microlen foam is popular for a range of applications, including protective packaging, marine bouyancy and thermal/acoustic insulation. Its ease of conversion, including cutting, laminating and moulding, makes it suitable for everything from life jackets to automotive sound-proofing.
Microlen foam is suitable for applications that experience a temperature range of of -40°C to +80°C. Besides its good dimensional stability throughout this range, it can also withstand brief, intermittent spikes in temperature (up to +100°C) without compromising its structure or insulative performance.
Microlen foam is completely free of CFCs (chlorofluorocarbons) and HCFCs. Additionally, its tight, closed-cell structure is resistant to chemical degradation and inhibits the growth of bacteria, mould, and other microorganisms.

Microlen is a high-quality, closed-cell polyethylene (PE) microcellular foam. It is manufactured using a specialised cross-linking process in which raw polyethylene is subjected to high pressure and high temperatures. This distinct manufacturing method forces the chemical structure to cross-link evenly, creating an exceptionally fine, consistent, and uniform cell pattern.
As a result, Microlen exhibits high elasticity, excellent compressive strength, and high thermal insulation. It is lightweight, non-abrasive, non-toxic, and free of harmful chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs and HCFCs).
Microlen is supplied in a broad range of densities, from 30 kg/m³ to 180 kg/m³, with material manufactured in dimensions of 2000mm x 1000mm. Its availability in exceptionally thick, unlaminated blocks up to 105mm eliminates the need for multi-layer bonding (although suppliers/converters can still easily laminate or butt weld for specific requirements).
Polyformes is one of the UK’s most experienced foam manufacturers and converters, delivering cutting-edge, commercially viable foam solutions for more than four decades.
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