Cushioning test methods

ASTM F 1534 Standard Test Method for Determining Changes in Fire-Test-Response Characteristics of Cushioning Materials after Water Leaching... 

ASTM D 1596-91 Standard Test Method for Shock Absorbing Characteristics of Package Cushioning Materials, 6 pp (Comm D-10)... 

MII STD-1186A Cushioning, Anchoring, Bracing, Blocking and Waterproofing with Appropriate Test Methods, 12 March 1981, 29 pp (Area PACK) (ME)... 

GRI. GT12 Test methods and properties for nonwoven geotextiles used as protection (or cushioning) materials. 

Test method Test property Cushion Separation stabilization Filtration Paving (flexible)... 

Three methods for generating performance information relative to the shock absorbing ability of cushioning materials are discussed. Data are given for drop tests for PE foam. 6 refs. 

In the world of polyurethanes, standard methods describe the properties of the materials. While the conventional methods of analysis are necessary for compliance with the physical design of a system, our task must include chemical tests, and they must be developed on an ad hoc basis. Nevertheless, conventional methods for analyzing a polyurethane are very helpful and are reviewed here. Our focus will be on the effects of the polyurethane chemistry on fluids with which it comes into contact. Because this is different from the typical use pattern, some of the standard methods used to produce seat cushions, for example, will not apply. We will discuss several methods but not in the traditional order. 

Two techniques allow determination of the compressibility of foam. The methods are related and the application dictates which method better defines the quality of the product. For example, for furniture cushions, indentation force deflection (IFD) is a more common test technique than compression force deflection. Both methods determine the amount of force required to compress a foam to a percentage of its thickness. In the IFD test, the plunger that compresses the foam is smaller than the foam sample. This presumably correlates to a person sitting in the center of a chair cushion. 

ASTM D 3574 Methods of Testing Flexible Cellular Materials. Although not included in the body of this standard, an Appendix lists U.S. Government and ASTM tests covering combustibility of flexible urethane foam used in cushioning. These include DOT and FAA tests not listed in this book. 

This standard specifies a procedure for determining the dynamic cushioning performance of cellular rubber materials and rigid and flexible plastics by measuring the peak deceleration of a mass when it is dropped on a test piece. The test is intended primarily for quality assurance. However, since this type of test is also used to obtain design data notes are given in Annex A to assist in this objective. The method is applicable solely to packaging materials. 

Meissner and Hostettler [32] have described an improvement on an earlier double rotating clamp method in which metal conveyor belts were used at both ends. The test sample, a rectangular bar 60 x 7-8 x 2 mm, was supported on a cushion of inert gas. 

Method A. Indentation force deflection (IFD) consists of measuring the load necessary to produce deflection (generally 25-65 percent) in the foam product. The test is carried out by pushing a flat circular indentor foot down into the foam specimen and measuring the force on the foot at various compression amounts. The test is widely used in the cushioning and bedding industry. Higher IFD values indicate a stiffer foam. 

Method D Dynamic fatigue test for carpet cushion... 

Method D, the dynamic fatigue test for carpet cushion, was developed to evaluate the specimen by repeatedly deflecting the carpet cushion by a rubber-covered roller exerting a specified force on the test specimens. The test determines the retention of force support at 65% compression force deflection (CFD), loss of thickness, and structural breakdown as determined by visual inspection. 

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