All-Foam
products can provide you with virtually any type of foam rubber
product. Most commonly requested foams include:
Polyethylene Foam
Polyethylene is a closed cell, expanded,
extruded flexible plastic foam. It is primarily used as a protective
packaging material because of its predictable shock absorbing qualities. It
is available in densities from 1.2 lbs./cu. ft. up to 6.0 lbs./cu. ft.
The compression (firmness) of polyethylene foam is
directly related to its density — the heavier the foam, the harder it
is.
Polyethylene foam is available in roll or
sheet/plank form. Due to the nature of the extrusion process that produces this
material, the thickness of rolls and planks is very limited. In order to provide
thickness greater than 2.0 inches, this material must be laminated. The
resulting material can be up to three layers thick for a total of 6.0 inches for
bulk foam. Fabrication using various adhesives across smaller areas can produce
much thicker combinations.
Cross-Linked
PE (Polyethylene) Foam
Cross-linked polyethylene foam is made
by adding several additional ingredients to standard
polyethylene foam to produce a finer (smaller) celled product. As a
result, it has a smoother texture than standard polyethylene foam and
offers some different shock absorbing parameters.
This material is made in thinner layers
than standard polyethylene forma, using 0.5 inch increments instead of 2.0
inch increments. It is also heat laminated under carefully controlled
conditions.
Polyurethane
Foam
Click
Here to Order Polyurethane Foam (sheets and rolls) Online
Polyurethane is an open cell chemically
expanded product created by a rapid chemical reaction which produces a
high volume of carbon dioxide gas as a byproduct. This gas creates bubbles
within the matrix of the chains of polymers which become the cell walls.
The gas escapes, leaving behind a skeleton of foam.
The quality and performance of these
cell walls make up the physical characteristics that will, upon curing for
at least 24 hours, determine the firmness and resiliency of the final
product.
Ethers
and Esters
Ethers and Esters are separate chemical
bases, varying in many physical characteristics with very different uses.
Ether foams are described by
their density and compression ratings and are more resilient, available in
more variations and are less expensive than ester foams. Ether foams are
used in furniture, bedding and many packaging applications.
Esters are generally described
only by their density. Pore sizes are more controllable than in ethers.
Ester foams are used in packaging, gasketing, sound attenuation and
filtration applications.
Flocked
Foam
Flocked foam is a combination of ester
based foam with tiny fibers electrostatically oriented and glued to the
foam. The fibers are charged in such a way as to make them stand
perpendicular to the glued foam surface. This creates a smooth uniform,
"velvety" look and feel. Flocked foam is commonly used in
decorative packaging and display applications.
Anti-Static
Foam
Anti-static (actually static
dissipative) foams are treated with a chemical that prevents the build-up
of static electricity on the surface of the foam. This type of foam is
needed when sensitive electronic components or computer tapes and disks
are packaged, since static charges can destroy these items.
Fire-retardant
Foam
Fire-retardant foams contain several
types of additives that slow the progression of an open flame. There are
many variations and levels of fire retardancy depending on the intended
usage of the foam.
Furniture foams, for example, are
intended to extinguish when the flame source is removed. Other foams
create a charred barrier to contain a fire. Residential and commercial
requirements vary.
Fire retardancy was developed to slow
the progression of a fire to allow occupants additional time to escape.
This is true of foams used in vehicles as well as fixed structures, such
as homes and office buildings.
