Closed Cell Foam

Closed Cell Foam

Closed cell foam does not have interconnected pores or cells like those that are found in open cell foam. Rather, in closed cell foam, the material's cells are separate sealed elements placed in a compact configuration which results in dense and pressure resistant foam. Closed cell foam has varying degrees of hardness, depending on the density of the cells it is composed of. It is commonly used in building applications for residential homes, industrial buildings, office buildings, schools, outdoor and marine environments. Foam mattresses, foam padding, foam cushions for couches and chairs, packaging materials, flotation devices and other nautical buoyancy applications are all examples of everyday uses for closed cell foam. It can be fabricated into numerous shapes, sizes and colors according to custom requirements and applications. Foam is an extremely malleable material and is fairly easy to manage in terms of cutting and fabricating. Foam is typically described as either closed cell foam or open cell foam. The fabrication of foam material is dependent on what type of foam is being used as the processes differ in terms of capabilities and suitability. Die cutting, contour cutting, hot wire cutting, foam felting and routing are all different methods of shaping a piece of foam into the required dimensions and shape. Heat, applied pressure or direct foam cutting are the most common methods of shaping foam.

Compared to open cell foam, closed cell foam has higher compressive strength and dimensional stability. The cells are not broken within the foam, but rather they exert pressure on each providing rigidity and making the material more resistant to air and water vapor leakages. These properties make closed cell foam a good material to use for heat insulation or outdoor insulation. Its low moisture absorption add to its suitability for outdoor use. Unlike open cell foam which soaks up water due to its porosity, closed cell foam is almost impermeable to moisture, another reason why closed cell foam is suitable for buoyancy and flotation devices.  Disadvantages to requiring closed cell foam instead of open cell foam include the higher material costs due to the increased denseness. The hardness of the foam is dependent on its density, and therefore for applications requiring sturdy foam, higher material costs may be required. Foam also tends to break down over time, especially if it is exposed to frequent wear and tear. Therefore it will need to be replaced at some stage in almost every application. When determining the specifics of foam type for a certain application, variables to be considered are density, tensile strength, tear strength, thermal conductivity and elongation of the material.

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