Polyolefin elastomers (POE) and plastomers: buy by density and melt index
For TPO and PP compounders, foam makers, wire and cable compounders, hot melt formulators and film converters. We quote ethylene-octene and ethylene-butene POE and plastomers through our supply partners, case by case, from one gaylord to railcars. A polymer chemist checks every match on comonomer, density and melt index against the grade you run now.
Updated October 2026
Request a QuoteThe short answer
Polyolefin elastomers (POE) are metallocene ethylene copolymers, usually with octene or butene, and they are bought by density and melt index. In the grades we read, density runs from about 0.857 to 0.910 g/cm³ and melt index from under 0.5 to about 30 g/10 min at 190°C / 374°F, 2.16 kg, with hot melt grades far higher. Lower density means softer, more rubbery and lower melting. TPO impact modifiers sit at about 0.857–0.870 with a low melt index, foam modifiers at about 0.868–0.885, and film sealant plastomers at about 0.900–0.910. Order by comonomer, density, melt index (or Mooney viscosity), dusting and the food-contact letter for the exact grade.
The density × melt index ladder
Every melt index on this page is measured at 190°C / 374°F, 2.16 kg (ASTM D1238), the polyethylene condition. It cannot be compared with a PP melt flow rate at 230°C / 446°F. Very low-MI grades are often also given a Mooney viscosity, ML 1+4 at 121°C / 250°F (ASTM D1646), and hot melt bases are sold by Brookfield melt viscosity because their melt index is too high to be useful. See melt flow index explained.
| Density, g/cm³ | Feel and hardness | Typical uses | Melt index steps we found |
|---|---|---|---|
| About 0.857–0.865 | Very soft and rubbery; about 44–64 Shore A | Impact modification of PP and TPO, soft compounds | About 0.5–5 g/10 min; one grade about 13 |
| About 0.868–0.875 | Soft; about 65–74 Shore A | TPO and PP impact modification, wire and cable, EVA foam blends, soft-touch | About 0.5–5 g/10 min; high-flow grades about 30 |
| About 0.880–0.885 | Firmer; about 80–84 Shore A | Foam, soft molded and extruded goods, PE and PP modification | About 0.8–30 g/10 min |
| About 0.897–0.910 | Flexible plastic; about 86–91 Shore A, or about 34–47 Shore D | Film sealant layers (plastomers), PE film modification, firmer foam | About 1–3.5 g/10 min for film; some about 30 |
| Hot melt bases, about 0.870–0.874 | Soft, low crystallinity | Hot melt adhesives, additive and masterbatch carriers | Roughly 500–1,000 g/10 min; bought by Brookfield viscosity |
Ranges in the grades we read: the Dow ENGAGE selection guide (2015 edition), the ExxonMobil Exact Americas product finder and foam fact sheet (2024–2025) and Dow's AFFINITY GA launch data. Grades vary. Confirm on the current data sheet for the exact grade.
How density sets hardness, stiffness and melting point
More comonomer means lower density, less crystallinity and a softer, lower-melting polymer. In Dow's table, total crystallinity runs from about 13% at 0.857 g/cm³ to about 34% at 0.908. Going from 0.870 to 0.885 roughly doubles to triples flexural modulus, and going on to 0.902 doubles it again. Melt index works on a separate axis: at 0.885, a 1 MI grade lists about 18 MPa tensile strength and a 30 MI grade about 8.5 MPa. Higher MI flows easier but gives up strength.
| Property | About 0.857–0.864 | About 0.868–0.870 | About 0.880–0.885 | About 0.900–0.908 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hardness, Shore A (ASTM D2240) | About 44–63 | About 66–73 | About 80–84 | About 88–91 |
| Flexural modulus, 2% secant (ASTM D790) | About 4–8 MPa (about 600–1,200 psi) | About 10–14 MPa (about 1,500–2,100 psi) | About 20–34 MPa (about 3,000–4,900 psi) | About 72–108 MPa (about 10,400–15,600 psi) |
| DSC peak melting point | About 34–56°C / 93–133°F | About 54–65°C / 129–149°F | About 64–80°C / 147–176°F | About 94–104°C / 201–219°F |
| Glass transition (DSC) | About −58 to −55°C / −72 to −67°F | About −54 to −52°C / −65 to −62°F | About −50 to −42°C / −58 to −44°F | About −36 to −31°C / −33 to −24°F |
| Mooney, ML 1+4 at 121°C / 250°F, low-MI grades | About 19–37 MU | About 24–33 MU | About 23–24 MU | About 20 MU |
Dow ENGAGE values are on compression-molded samples (2015 guide); ExxonMobil Exact hardness and melting use ExxonMobil methods, and its finder lists 1% secant modulus. Octene and butene grades are mixed in these ranges. Typical values, not specifications.
POE or plastomer, octene or butene, or propylene-based
The name is a convention, not a standard. Producers call the softer, rubbery grades polyolefin elastomers (POE) and the firmer grades polyolefin plastomers (POP), but there is no fixed density line. Many place it somewhere around 0.885–0.900 g/cm³. Dow's ENGAGE POE list runs up to 0.908, while its AFFINITY GA 1900 hot melt base at 0.870 was launched as a plastomer. ExxonMobil's Exact POE page lists octene and butene grades from 0.857 g/cm³ (Exact 5151) to 0.900 (Exact 5101), yet each grade's data sheet calls it a plastomer resin. Our metallocene PE and PP page uses about 0.86–0.89 for POE and about 0.88–0.91 for plastomers, with overlap. Buy by the numbers, not the label.
- Ethylene-octene. Most POE and plastomer grades in the families we read. Octene is often sold as the tougher choice for impact modification and film.
- Ethylene-butene. Dow and ExxonMobil both list butene grades. At 0.862–0.865 they run about 44–64 Shore A with peak melting about 34–40°C / 93–104°F. They are often offered as a lower-cost route. Test tensile and cold impact in your compound before you swap one for an octene grade.
- Propylene-based elastomers (PBE). Mostly propylene with some ethylene. One example, ExxonMobil Vistamaxx 6102, lists 16 wt% ethylene, 0.862 g/cm³, MFR 3.0 at 230°C / 446°F (melt index 1.4 at 190°C / 374°F), 67 Shore A and a Vicat of about 54°C / 129°F. PBE is sold for PP modification, film and nonwovens. It is a different polymer from ethylene-octene POE, so do not match it on density alone.
- Olefin block copolymers (OBC). A block structure rather than a random copolymer, promoted for foam recovery and heat resistance. Not a drop-in for a random POE at the same density.
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More by use: TPO and compounding, talc-filled PP, EVA foam resin, wire and cable compounds and hot melt EVA.
| Use | Density window to start from | Melt index or viscosity | What to check |
|---|---|---|---|
| TPO and PP impact modification (bumper fascias, interior trim) | About 0.857–0.870 | About 0.5–5 g/10 min; about 13–30 for high-flow compounds | Cold impact in the finished compound at your OEM spec temperature, flexural modulus, paint adhesion, compound MFR at 230°C / 446°F |
| Wire and cable compounds (filled, or peroxide or silane crosslinked) | About 0.868–0.880 | About 1–5 g/10 min | Filler acceptance, cure response, and the compound named in your UL file |
| EVA/POE foam (midsoles, sandals, mats) | About 0.868–0.885; some up to 0.900 | About 0.5–5 g/10 min | Asker C hardness, compression set, rebound and shrinkage in your formula; peroxide level |
| Hot melt adhesives | About 0.870–0.875 | Brookfield viscosity; two launch grades listed about 8,200 and 17,000 cP at 177°C / 350°F | Set and open time, heat resistance, tackifier and wax compatibility, application temperature |
| Film sealant and soft film (plastomers) | About 0.900–0.910 | About 1–3.5 g/10 min | Seal initiation temperature, hot tack (ASTM F1921), seal strength (ASTM F88), slip and antiblock |
| Soft-touch molding and TPE compounds | About 0.870–0.885 | About 5–30 g/10 min | Shore A, flow, surface tack, compression set at your use temperature |
Starting windows from producer selection guides and application listings. Your formula and part decide the final grade.
Pellet blocking, dusting and storage
Soft pellets stick together under weight and heat. Dow's handling guide calls this blocking or massing and flags grades below about 0.875 g/cm³ as the most at risk.
- Dusting. Many low-density grades are talc-dusted or carry another partitioning agent. Dow notes that properties may be measured before the talc goes on. Ask whether the grade is dusted and with what, and whether that suits your clarity, film or food-contact needs.
- Keep it cool. Dow recommends long-term storage no hotter than 35°C / 95°F, ideally 10–21°C / 50–70°F. Use low racks, away from hot roof space, and watch summer trailers and railcars.
- Take the load off. Do not double-stack gaylords or supersacks. Use material first in, first out, and do not fill silos higher than you need.
- Cold and wet. Below 10°C / 50°F, discharge can slow. Wet bags that freeze need several days at room temperature before use.
- Conveying. Dilute-phase conveying is preferred, at gas velocities no higher than about 30 m/s (6,000 ft/min), with filters for the talc.
- Blocked or melted? Blocked pellets come apart after the load is removed and they sit at room temperature. Pellets that stay fused were overheated. See resin shelf life.
Substitutes, COA values and food-contact letters
- Closest match. Same comonomer, same nominal density and same melt index (or Mooney). Catalyst and process still differ between producers, so trial in your compound. See finding an equivalent grade.
- Small density steps matter. In Dow's table, two octene grades at the same 0.5 melt index, 0.863 and 0.868 g/cm³, list about 63 vs. 70 Shore A and about 8 vs. 14 MPa flexural modulus.
- Test the compound, not the pellet. Notched Izod (ASTM D256 or ISO 180) or instrumented impact (ASTM D3763) at your coldest spec temperature, flexural modulus (ASTM D790 or ISO 178) and compound MFR.
- COA values. Density (ASTM D792 or D1505) and melt index (ASTM D1238) are the usual lot values, with Mooney on some low-MI grades and Brookfield viscosity on hot melt bases. Compare each lot with the producer's sales spec range, not the typical value. See what a COA shows.
- Tolerances. Data sheets show typical values only. Ask for the minimum and maximum on density and melt index and we put them on the quote.
- FDA letters are grade-specific. Some grades cite 21 CFR 177.1520 (olefin polymers), and others a Food Contact Notification; one hot melt base lists FCN 424. Ask for the letter for the exact grade and its conditions of use. See FDA food-contact compliance.
- Approved compounds. An automotive material spec or a UL file usually covers the finished compound, so changing the POE may start your customer's change process.
POE vs. EPDM vs. EVA vs. SEBS
POE has replaced EPR and EPDM in many TPO compounds because pellets dry-blend and feed like PP. EPDM still rules cured rubber parts. EVA stays the base for most foam and many hot melts, with POE as a modifier. See TPV vs. EPDM, TPV vs. SEBS TPE, and our EVA grades.
| POE | EPDM | EVA | SEBS | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| What it is | Saturated ethylene-octene or ethylene-butene copolymer | Ethylene-propylene rubber with a diene for curing | Ethylene-vinyl acetate copolymer, polar | Styrenic block copolymer, usually compounded with oil and PP |
| Usual form | Free-flowing pellets, some talc-dusted | Mostly bales; some pellet grades | Pellets | Pellets, powder or crumb, by grade |
| How it crosslinks | Peroxide, silane or radiation; no sulfur cure | Sulfur or peroxide | Peroxide in foam; radiation | Not chemically cured; styrene domains act as physical crosslinks |
| Where it wins | Dry-blends with PP for TPO; low density; easy handling | Cured rubber goods: seals, hose, roofing; TPV | Filler loading, adhesion, foam and hot melt bases | Elastic recovery and soft-touch overmolding |
| Watch for | Softens and takes a set when warm unless crosslinked; blocking | Mixing and curing steps | Polar; lower heat resistance | Oil bleed in soft compounds; higher cost |
General comparison. Grades in each family vary widely.
Who makes POE, and supply notes
- A short producer list. A handful of producers make most metallocene POE and plastomers sold in North America. Examples of producer families, not a claim that we carry any brand: Dow ENGAGE (POE) and AFFINITY (plastomers), ExxonMobil Exact (POE and plastomers) and Vistamaxx (propylene-based), LG Chem LUCENE, SABIC FORTIFY (POE) and COHERE (plastomers) from the SABIC SK Nexlene joint venture in Korea, Mitsui Chemicals TAFMER and Borealis Queo.
- Much of it travels. Part of the supply is made in Asia and Europe, so lead time and landed cost depend on ocean freight and duties. Tariffs on some origins have changed often. Ask for the country of origin on every quote and check current duties with your customs broker.
- Names change. ExxonMobil launched its Signature Polymers brand in October 2024 and renamed grades in stages into 2025. Some Exact grades moved to the new Exxtra brand, so an old grade name may now appear under a new one. Check old names in our trade name decoder.
- Where we fit. Large compounders often buy direct on contract. We help with trials, a qualified second source and cover during an outage or allocation.
What to put on the RFQ, and how it is priced
POE follows ethylene and comonomer costs, with a premium for metallocene grades and freight and duties on imports. We do not post prices. We quote a specific grade, quantity, package and ship-to city through our supply partners, from one gaylord up, from 22+ partner warehouse locations where a partner has the grade. Every prime lot from our suppliers ships with a COA, and we ship to the U.S. and Canada only.
- The grade you run now, with its data sheet and three to six recent COAs if you have them.
- Comonomer. Octene, butene or propylene-based.
- Density and melt index ranges, at 190°C / 374°F, 2.16 kg; or Mooney ML 1+4 at 121°C / 250°F; or Brookfield viscosity at 177°C / 350°F for hot melt.
- Form. Talc-dusted or not, and which partitioning agents you can accept.
- Use and key test. Cold impact in the compound, compression set, seal initiation or set time.
- Documents. FDA letter or FCN with conditions of use, Health Canada if needed, OEM approval or UL file.
- Origin. Countries of origin you accept.
- Quantity, package and ship-to. Gaylord (about 1,000–1,600 lb), supersack or bags, bulk truck or railcar, yearly use, the city, and whether you can store it cool. See send an RFQ package.
Common questions
What is a polyolefin elastomer (POE)?
A soft metallocene copolymer of ethylene with octene or butene, sold as pellets. Density runs about 0.857–0.908 g/cm³ in the grades we read. It is used to toughen PP and TPO, soften compounds, modify EVA foam and make filled cable compounds.
What does POE 0.870 density mean?
It is a soft grade at 0.870 g/cm³, about 66–73 Shore A with peak melting about 59–65°C / 138–149°F in the grades we read. Grades at 0.870 with 1 or 5 g/10 min melt index are widely used as impact modifiers for PP and TPO.
What POE is used as an impact modifier for PP and TPO?
Usually an ethylene-octene or ethylene-butene POE at about 0.857–0.870 g/cm³ and about 0.5–5 g/10 min melt index, with higher-flow grades for high-flow compounds. Confirm cold impact and stiffness in the finished compound.
What is the difference between a plastomer and a polyolefin elastomer?
Mostly density and feel. Plastomers are the firmer, more crystalline grades, often around 0.885–0.910 g/cm³, used in film sealants. POE are softer and rubbery. There is no fixed cutoff, and producers draw the line differently, so buy by density and melt index.
POE vs. EPDM: which is better for TPO?
Many TPO compounds now use POE because it comes as free-flowing pellets that dry-blend with PP. EPDM has a diene for curing and suits crosslinked rubber goods and TPV. Test the compound to your OEM spec either way.
POE vs. EVA: which is better for foam?
EVA stays the base for most shoe and mat foam. POE is blended in, often about 0.868–0.885 g/cm³, for lighter weight, softness and rebound. It changes how the peroxide cures, so adjust and trial the formula.
Can I buy POE by the gaylord?
Often, yes. We quote from one gaylord, about 1,000 to 1,600 lb, up to bulk trucks and railcars where a supply partner has the grade. We aim to send your quote within one to three business days.
If your grade is not listed, tell us what you run. We source commodity, engineering and specialty resins.
Tell us the POE or plastomer grade you run now
A polymer chemist reviews every request, then matches your grade or finds a qualified equivalent and prices it.
What to send for an accurate quote
- The grade name, from any supplier, or a data sheet
- Color (natural, black or a custom match)
- Fill type and percentage, if any
- Melt flow, if you know it
- Quantity for this order and what you use in a year
- Ship-to city and state or province
POE and plastomers matched by density and melt index
Send the grade you run, or its comonomer, density, melt index and use, plus your yearly volume. A polymer chemist reviews it and tells you whether we can quote the same grade or an equivalent to trial. We aim to send your quote within one to three business days.
Request a QuoteNot sure which grade fits your part?
Send the grade you run now, or describe the part. A polymer chemist reviews every request.