Most weeks, I get calls from engineers and buyers who are already under a deadline. A material spec just changed. A sample failed. A shipment is stuck at customs. Before they ask about pricing, they usually need answers about what Hanwha actually makes, where to find the documentation, and whether a certain material is safe. This FAQ covers the questions I keep answering.
What does Hanwha make?
Hanwha has a broad polymer portfolio: EVA resin, PTFE, silicone, polypropylene, polyethylene, polycarbonate, nylon, ABS, TPE, PVC, rubber, and engineering plastics. When people search “Hanwha” on a sourcing portal, they're usually looking for one of those material families. In my role, I help manufacturers match those polymers to a specific part or process. If you don't know your grade yet, that's fine—but start with the application, not the product category.
Where can I find Hanwha downloads?
If you're in a hurry, go to the Downloads section of the Hanwha site. This is the first thing I tell anyone, because the technical datasheet answers most of the questions that cause panic later. You'll find specifications, safety data sheets, processing guides, and compliance documents there. Keep in mind: Hanwha downloads are organized by product family and grade. Searching for “EVA” is faster than searching for “plastic.”
And yes, I've been guilty of skipping this step (note to self: I should still take my own advice). There was a project last year where I wasted two days waiting on an email while the datasheet had been online the whole time.
What is Hanwha EVA 1316?
Hanwha EVA 1316 is one of our EVA resin grades. It's a copolymer of ethylene and vinyl acetate, and it's commonly used in film, sheet, foam, and hot-melt applications. It's not a finished foam product—it's the starting resin.
Here's where people get stuck: they assume one EVA grade is interchangeable with another. It isn't. The vinyl acetate content, melt flow rate, and density change how the material processes and performs. I'm not going to quote the full datasheet here, because you need the current version. Open Hanwha Downloads and check the grade number. If you're looking for “Hanwha EVA 1316,” the datasheet will tell you if it's the right material for your equipment and end-use.
Are “Teflon products” the same as PTFE?
This one comes up a lot. Teflon is a brand name for PTFE, not a material family. The Teflon trademark belongs to Chemours. Hanwha doesn't sell “Teflon products,” because that's not our brand. We manufacture PTFE resin and PTFE compounds for seals, gaskets, valve parts, wire insulation, and other applications.
If your drawing says “Teflon,” don't worry. What you actually need is a PTFE grade with the right particle size, purity, and processing behavior. In my experience, specifying the polymer by its generic name—and checking the datasheet—saves a lot of confusion. I've also seen buyers pick an unbranded PTFE simply because it was cheaper. That's not automatically a disaster, but I'd rather pay a little more for a grade with documented lot traceability than risk a field failure.
Is EVA foam toxic?
Short answer: EVA foam is not inherently toxic. EVA is used in shoes, toys, yoga mats, sports mats, and packaging. The concern is rarely the EVA itself—it's what gets added during compounding. Plasticizers, crosslinking agents, colorants, and impurities can cause problems in cheap or poorly controlled production.
If you're asking “is EVA foam toxic?” because you're sourcing for children's products or medical use, don't rely on a sales pitch. Ask for the safety data sheet and third-party test results. In the EU, look for REACH and EN 71 compliance. For US children's products, CPSIA testing matters. I'm not a toxicologist, but I've seen how much the test data varies between suppliers.
Everything I'd read said EVA foam was “safe,” and in practice it usually is. But I only trust that word after I've seen the paperwork. If a vendor can't provide it, that's a red flag, no matter how good the price looks. A $200 savings on raw material isn't worth a product recall.
What is PVC foam board?
PVC foam board—also called expanded PVC sheet or foamed PVC board—is a rigid, lightweight sheet with a closed-cell foam core and a smoother outer skin. It's used for signage, displays, interior panels, cabinetry, marine interiors, and even some packaging applications. It cuts, routes, prints, and glues well, which makes it popular in fabrication shops.
One thing I've learned: “standard PVC foam board” means next to nothing. Density and thickness matter. A lower-density board is easier to cut but can dent or warp. A higher-density board is stiffer and more durable. We specify both density and sheet dimensions on our RFQs because otherwise someone's “standard” board might not match your process. The same logic applies to any polymer—get the numbers, not the marketing language.
Can I get Hanwha materials quickly in an emergency?
Speed depends on how prepared you are. In my role handling rush requests, I've seen same-day turnarounds for stocked grades—but only when the customer already knew the exact grade and quantity. If the request is “send me something flexible,” the process slows down immediately.
Here's what I'd do if you're up against a deadline: check Hanwha downloads, pull the datasheet, confirm the grade, and call with a concrete spec. That one step saves at least a day. Last March, I got a call from a manufacturer who needed PTFE with a specific particle size; we found it in stock and shipped the next morning. The week before, another customer had spent two days comparing quotes and ended up missing the supplier's cut-off. The difference wasn't the material—it was the preparation.
One more thing: don't choose a supplier based only on the lowest quote. I've watched a cheap EVA foam order fail a flammability test and force a full re-run. The total cost was three times the original quote. In my book, value means documented quality, reliable delivery, and support when something goes wrong. Price matters, but it's not the first thing I'd use to triage a rush order.
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