Urethane Foam

Urethane Foam

Urethane foam is a versatile and widely used type of foam material. Commonly used to refer to a material made from polyurethane, urethane foam can be both rigid and flexible and in a broad range of industries such as construction, furniture, automotive and medical. Hospital equipment such as surgical scrubbers or x-ray positioning pads, sound and thermal insulation, packaging materials and interior padding for automobiles are examples of common uses for urethane foam. As with other foam materials, urethane foam is extremely versatile in its range of uses and can be adjusted in terms of thickness, density, cell form, size and shape. Foams are most often described as either open cell foam or closed cell foam according to the layout of the individual material cells. Open cell foam cells are interconnected and produce a highly absorbent and soft material. Closed cell foam tends to be more resistant to pressure and absorption, but provides a rigid structural support. Foam is typically stored and transported in stock sizes of blocks, rolls or buns which are then cut and fabricated into final products. Through the process of foam cutting using hot wire, laser, water jet or CNC machines, bulk blocks of foam can be cut into precise and uniform shapes. These shapes can also be joined together with adhesives to create a final product. For more complex shapes, urethane foam can be molded to produce furniture upholstery and seat cushioning.

Bedding and mattress padding is the best known use of urethane foam. As foam is an artificially manufactured material, it can be formed to a specific densities and flexibilities which are particularly useful for mattress and bedding manufacturers who can then market different comfort levels of mattress to their customers. Flexible urethane foam is a popular alternative to steel springs and polyester fiber for foam padding. It is quieter, does not require further padding and recovers quickly from compression. Other common uses include insulation in attic roofing, walls and other parts of construction. Urethane foam can be manufactured in a spray form which is commonly used in place of other insulation materials as it expands to fit precisely into an area. Using spray insulation removes the possibility for gaps and ensures that a barrier is its most effective. Urethane foam is an ideal insulation material as the open cells of the foam hold air which has low thermal conductivity, preventing unnecessary loss of interior temperature or air condition.