EVA Rebound Resilience: Compression Rebound Ratio and ASTM Standards
- Damao Tech
- EVA Foam
- 31 May, 2026
EVA foam rebound resilience (or “rebound ratio”) is the percentage of impact energy a foam returns after being struck, measured by dropping a 16 mm / 16.3 g steel ball from a 500 mm height onto the foam and recording how high it bounces back. The governing standard for flexible EVA foam is ASTM D3574 Test H (identical to ISO 8307); typical EVA values range from 30% to 65%, controlled by foam density and vinyl-acetate (VA) content.
If you specify EVA foam for shoe midsoles, sports padding, protective packaging, or vibration mounts, the rebound value tells you how much of an impact comes back as bounce versus how much is absorbed. This guide explains the correct test standard (a common point of confusion), the exact Test H procedure, the relationship between density / VA% and rebound, and how to write a rebound specification on a purchase order so a supplier like Damao Tech delivers material that actually performs.
What Is Rebound Resilience?
Rebound resilience is a direct measurement of a foam’s elasticity — how efficiently it stores and returns the kinetic energy of an impact. It is expressed as a percentage:
$$ \text{Rebound Ratio (%)} = \frac{\text{Rebound Height}}{\text{Drop Height}} \times 100% $$
- High Rebound (50% to 65%+) → Energy-return foam. The foam “throws back” the impactor. Used in running-shoe midsoles, sports flooring, trampoline pads.
- Medium Rebound (35% to 50%) → Balanced cushioning. Used in case inserts, knee pads, general protective padding.
- Low Rebound (20% to 35%) → Energy-absorbing foam. The impact is dissipated as heat instead of returning. Used in shock-absorbing packaging, fragile-product transport inserts, vibration damping.
This single number distinguishes “bouncy” EVA from “dead” EVA — two samples with identical density and Shore C hardness can still rebound very differently depending on VA content and crosslinking.
ASTM D3574 Test H: The Correct Standard for EVA Foam
For flexible cellular polymers (which includes EVA foam, polyurethane foam, and most closed-cell padding foams), the authoritative rebound test is:
- ASTM D3574 – Test H: Ball Rebound Resilience
- ISO 8307 — internationally equivalent, same procedure
- GB/T 6670 — Chinese national equivalent
Test H Procedure
| Step | Specification |
|---|---|
| Specimen | EVA foam pad, minimum 50 mm thick, 100 Ă— 100 mm or larger surface |
| Conditioning | 23 °C ± 2 °C, 50% ± 5% RH for ≥ 16 hours before test |
| Drop tube | Clear vertical tube, internal diameter matched to ball |
| Steel ball | Diameter 16 mm, mass 16.3 g (±0.5 g) |
| Drop height | 500 mm (measured from underside of ball to specimen surface) |
| Measurement | Maximum rebound height of the ball, read by light curtain or high-speed camera |
| Result | Average of 5 drops at 5 different specimen locations |
The reported rebound resilience is the ratio of rebound height to drop height, expressed as a percentage and rounded to the nearest 1%.
ASTM D3574 vs D2632 vs F1976: Don’t Mix These Up
The most common spec mistake on EVA orders is calling out the wrong standard. Each method was designed for a different material class:
| Standard | Material | Method | When to Use |
|---|---|---|---|
| ASTM D3574 Test H | Flexible cellular foam (EVA, PU) | Ball drop, 500 mm, 16 mm / 16.3 g steel ball | âś… Default for EVA foam rebound |
| ISO 8307 | Flexible cellular foam | Identical to D3574 Test H | International contracts; same number |
| ASTM D2632 | Solid rubber (rubber sheet, gaskets) | Vertical rebound of a falling plunger | ❌ Not appropriate for foam — gives misleadingly low values on EVA |
| ASTM F1976 | Athletic footwear midsoles | Impact attenuation + energy return at higher impact energies | Sports-shoe certification only |
| ASTM D2240 | Any polymer | Shore A / C / 00 durometer | Hardness, not rebound — often confused |
If your supplier sends a rebound value tested per D2632, ask for retest per D3574 Test H. The numbers are not interchangeable.
How Density and VA Content Affect EVA Rebound
EVA foam rebound is driven by two production variables that you can specify on the order:
1. Density (kg/mÂł)
For a given EVA formulation, rebound generally increases with density up to a point, then plateaus. Very low-density EVA collapses under the ball and absorbs more energy; high-density EVA has stiffer cell walls that snap back.
2. VA (Vinyl Acetate) Content
VA percentage controls how rubbery the polymer matrix is. Higher VA = more elastomeric = higher rebound, but also softer and more expensive.
| EVA Grade | Density (kg/mÂł) | VA Content | Typical Rebound (D3574 Test H) | Common Application |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Low-density packaging | 33–60 | 14–18% | 25–35% | Shock-absorbing inserts, fragile-product packaging |
| Standard padding | 60–100 | 18–22% | 35–45% | Case interiors, general protective padding |
| Midsole / orthotic | 100–150 | 22–28% | 45–55% | Footwear midsoles, athletic insoles |
| High-rebound EVA | 130–180 | 28–35% | 55–65% | Running-shoe energy-return inserts, sports flooring |
| High-density structural | 180–280 | 14–22% | 40–50% | Tool-tray inserts, gaskets, load-bearing pads |
Specifying Rebound on a B2B Purchase Order
When you order EVA foam for a performance-critical application, include all four lines below:
EVA foam, closed-cell
- Density: XX kg/m³ ± 5% (per ASTM D3575 Suffix W)
- Hardness: XX Shore C ± 3 (per ASTM D2240)
- Rebound: ≥ XX% (per ASTM D3574 Test H / ISO 8307)
- Compression set: ≤ XX% at 50% strain, 22 h @ 70 °C (per ASTM D3574 Test D)Quick Reference: Target Rebound by Application
| Application | Target Rebound (Test H) | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Fragile-product packaging | 25–35% | Maximum energy absorption protects contents |
| Tool-case inserts | 35–45% | Cushioning without pushing tools back out |
| Knee / elbow pads | 40–50% | Balance protection and tactile feedback |
| Yoga / floor mats | 45–55% | Comfortable spring without instability |
| Running-shoe midsole | 55–65% | Returns energy to the runner per stride |
| Vibration-damping mount | 20–30% | Dissipates oscillation as heat |
Frequently Asked Questions
Is “rebound” the same as “resilience”?
In foam standards yes — ASTM D3574 Test H is officially titled “Ball Rebound Resilience.” “Rebound ratio” and “ball rebound” describe the same measurement.
Can I use ASTM D2632 results for EVA foam?
No. D2632 is for solid rubber and uses a much heavier plunger; applying it to EVA foam under-reports rebound by 10–20 percentage points. Always specify D3574 Test H.
Does higher Shore C hardness mean higher rebound?
Not necessarily. Hardness and rebound are independent properties — you can have a hard but “dead” foam (low rebound, high damping) or a softer high-rebound foam. Always specify both.
Next Steps
For density selection, see our EVA Foam Density Guide. For hardness, see EVA Foam Density & Hardness: Shore A, C, and 00 Guide.
Ready to spec a custom EVA foam grade with verified rebound performance? Explore our EVA foam capabilities or request a quote.
