Foamed Shoe Materials – EVA and SEBS as the Perfect Match

EVA has become the mainstream base material for foamed shoes such as slippers, children’s shoes, and casual footwear, thanks to its low cost and excellent processability. However, EVA has clear shortcomings: insufficient resilience and support, weak abrasion and slip resistance, low tensile strength, and a tendency to collapse or crack after prolonged use.

SEBS, with its superior elasticity, weather resistance, and mechanical properties, perfectly complements EVA. Together, they form the “Golden Duo” of foamed shoe formulations.

EVA + SEBS for Balanced Performance and Cost

• General footwear: EVA as the base, SEBS as reinforcement.

• High-performance footwear: SEBS as the base, with a small amount of EVA to adjust softness and processability.

In practice, the ratio depends on shoe function, cost targets, and equipment parameters, striking the best balance among performance, cost, and processability.

1. Standard Formulation: EVA as Base, SEBS as Reinforcement

Logic: SEBS compensates for EVA’s weaknesses while maintaining low cost.

• SEBS content: 15%–50%

• Slippers & basic casual shoes (15%–30%)
  → Resilience ↑10%–20%
  → Tensile strength ↑15%
  → Prevents collapse while keeping softness and affordability.

• Mid-/high-end casual shoes, light sports shoes (30%–50%)
  → Resilience ↑30%+
  → Abrasion resistance ↑25%–40%
  → Support significantly enhanced for daily walking & light sports.

  
  

Mechanism: SEBS’s hydrogenated structure blends well with EVA, forming a continuous elastic network. This strengthens bubble walls in the foam, reduces deformation under stress, and slows down long-term aging.

2. High-Performance Formulation: SEBS as Base, EVA as Auxiliary

Logic: SEBS provides high elasticity and strength, while EVA improves softness and processing.

• Applications: High-performance sneakers (basketball, running), military boots, safety shoes.
  Requirements: Resilience >60%, tensile strength ≥10 MPa, shrink resistance, abrasion & puncture resistance.

• EVA content: 10%–15%

• Reduces SEBS melt viscosity for smoother foaming.

• Adjusts hardness (Shore C ↓5–10) to improve comfort.

• Enhances toughness of bubble walls, preventing brittle fractures.

✨ In summary, EVA and SEBS are not just complementary but synergistic, making them the best material partners for foamed footwear — from affordable slippers to professional sports and protective shoes.