Polyurethane Foam

Polyurethane Foam

Polyurethane foam, or PU foam, is a high resiliency, flexible foam material that is used as an alternative to polyethylene foam. It is made from mixing polyols, catylysts and blowing agents in such as manner as to achieve the desired porosity. Foam has many uses such as carpet padding, furniture upholstery padding, automotive seat foam cushion padding, packaging foam and more. Flexible polyurethane foam can be fabricated by either a slab stock process, which produces large continuous buns or rolls of polyurethane foam that can then be cut or processed into the desired shapes, or by a molding process that allows foam to set in a mold or cast in the finished product shape. The molding process is used for objects such as car seat cushions and sports equipment in which the foam in inserted into the mold and allowed to set and cure in the finished shape. Polyurethane differs from polyethylene foam in that it cannot be reheated to be adjusted and therefore molding is commonly used when fabricating products from polyurethane foam. However, as with other foam materials including polyethylene foam, closed cell foam and open cell foam, polyurethane foam is a material that is easily cut into shapes and sizes. Stock blocks and rolls of foam are processed by foam cutting which can occur using blades, water jet or hot wire methods. Polyurethane foam can also be joined together with the use of adhesives to create a desired shape.

In its many forms, polyurethane foam serves many industries and its almost limitless range of applications include surgical scrubbers, x-ray positioning pads, insulation foam, carpet cushioning, acoustics, soundproofing, padding foam and more. While most commonly found as a flexible material, in its closed cell form, polyurethane foam is rigid and strong. It is a durable material that is not easily damaged by elements of weather, temperature change or wear and tear. Polyurethane foam is used for insulation purposes in refrigerators and freezers, as well as for floatation purposes in water vessels such as boat decks, surfboards and buoyancy aids. Interior and exterior decorative components such as door frames, columns, window headers and more can also be constructed from polyurethane foam. Foam is lightweight, allowing it be implemented in a number of applications requiring high strength to weight ratio. In applications such as filter foam or medical foam, polyurethane foam is able to be sterilized and cleaned once it has been used to trap unwanted particles. It can also be used in liquid form to seal gaps in construction operations to prevent air and water leakage.

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