Comfort foam

Comfort Foam, Residental spray polyurethane foam. Foam Enterprises... 

Compressive Behavior. The most kiformative data ki characterising the compressive behavior of a flexible foam are derived from the entire load-deflection curve of 0—75% deflection and its return to 0% deflection at the speed experienced ki the anticipated appHcation. Various methods have been reported (3,161,169—172) for relating the properties of flexible foams to desked behavior ki comfort cushioning. Other methods to characterize package cushioning have been reported. The most important variables affecting compressive behavior are polymer composition, density, and cell stmcture and size. 

Latex foam mbber was initially accepted as a desirable comfort-cushioning material because of its softness to the touch and its resiUence (equal to that of a steel spring alone but with better damping quaUties than the spring). 

If outdoor air can easily leak into and through homes, both comfort and energy-efficient performance will be difficult to maintain. Today, off-the-shelf technologies that contribute to airtight construction include a variety of house wraps, sealants, foams, and tapes. In energy-efficient homes, builders use these tools to seal the myriad of cracks... 

Some of the key factors that lead us to select polyurethane foam for upholstery are its durability, resilience, and controllable hardness (or softness, depending on your point of view). Vibration dampening and shock absorbance are important attributes in automobile and public transportation seating. Open cell foams are preferred for these applications because they allow for air and moisture transport, which improve the comfort of passengers who may occupy a seat continuously for several hours. This inherent breathability is also a valuable attribute in mattresses. Shock absorbance plays a key role in selecting flexible polyurethane foams for the packaging of fragile items. 

This is a very important factor because the primary function of upholstered furniture, mattresses and bed assemblies is to provide comfortable seating and support which is hardwearing and durable as well as aesthetically acceptable. The development of suitable fabrics, foams and other materials is therefore of great importance and is a factor that can be overlooked in the pursuit of improved fire performance. 

Comfort cushioning is the largest single application of cellular polymers flexible foams are the principal contributors to this field. However, the rapid growth rate of structural, packaging, and insulation applications has brought their volume over that of flexible loams during the past Tew years. Table 5 shows U.S, consumption of foamed plastics by resin and market,... 

Applications. Furniture and minor vehicle upholstery is the largest market for flexible vinyl foams. Because of better aesthetics (leather-like plastics), comfort, and favorable pricing, they are expected to show good... 

Cross-linked polyethylene foams are produced by eilher radiation or chemical cross-linking of an extruded expandable sheet containing a chemical blowing agent. These products have finer texture and a softer, more resilient feel than extruded low density polyethylene foams and are used in comfort cushioning and cushion packaging applicutinns. 

When plastics are foamed to low densities, containing more air than polymer, they acquire unique new properties and applications. Major uses are in crash padding and thermal insulation. Closed-cell foams are outstanding for flotation, rigidity, and insulation while open-cell foams are outstanding for softness, resilience, and comfort. 

Sag factor (or comfort factor or support factor) is the ratio of the 65% compression force divided by the 25% compression force, and is used for evaluating cushioning ability. The sag factors of three kinds of flexible foams are shown below ... 

Dual-Hardness Molded Foam A number of formulations for molded foams have been reported. A new development in recent years is dual-hardness molded foams. Automotive seats and furniture have been labor-intensive products. These products provide good comfort by using different layers of different hardnesses. Molded foams produced by using a single formulation have relatively comfortable cushioning properties in terms of sag factor. However, this advantage is not enough to satisfy customers requirements for comfort. 

In the early 1980 s a neoprene-type foam (VONAR) made by Du Pont was developed specifically for use as a comfort cushioning material for critical applications where low flammabUity was required, such as in transport aircraft seat cushions. This material is designed for use over flame-retardant polymethane foam and is believed to provide 50 seconds more of evacuation time in the event of a post-crash fire. VONAR has a density of 10.66 Ib/ft , compared to 7-8 Ib/ft for standard neoprene foam, and 1.2-2 Ib/ft for polyurethane foam (5). 

This specification primarily relates to the quality of polyurethane foam used for comfort-cushioning purposes. The foam is classified according to performance during a fatigue test, indentation hardness being used as a secondary means of grading the material. 

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