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Meanings To Foam Terminology
To help you in your search for the right product we have broken down some of the phrases commonly used to describe foam and other associated flexible materials.
If there is a term that we have not yet added to this growing list, contact our sales team and they will help to identify the product most suitable to your needs.
Our range of flexible solutions is constantly growing as a result of our customer's needs, call us today to discuss your requirements and gain access to a world of foam at the home of foam.
Class O Foam: Foam that meets the requirements of British Standards flammability test method BS476 pts 6&7
Density: Defined as mass dived by its volume and generally expressed as a value in kg/m3 or lbs/ft3. Generally higher the density, better the quality of the foam and more expensive the foam is.
Tensile Strength: The strength of the material expressed as the greatest longitudinal stress it can bear without tearing apart. Result usually expressed in PSI, kg/cm2, kpa
Elongation at Break: The amount of stretch before the point of break. Result expressed as a %
Tensometer: A device to evaluate Young's modulus (How much it stretches under strain) of a material and other Tensile properties such tear strength, tensile strength elongation at @ break etc
Egg box , Egg crate or Profiled Foam: Foam that has been cut 3 dimensionally using a profiler machine. Various profiles are available with different base and rises (Peaks and troughs)
Densified Foam: Normal foam when under compression and heat has the density increased by various multiples of its original density and input thickness.
Felted Foam: Another term for densified foam
Pyrosorb: Impregnated foam such as our FT-70/0 that is Class O & Class 1 rated when tested to BS476 pts 6&7 Building Regulation Standards
Fireseal: Impregnated foam such as our FT-70/0 that is Class O & Class 1 rated when tested to BS476 pts 6&7 Building Regulation Standards
Firex: Impregnated foam such as our FT-70/0 THAT is Class O & Class 1 rated when tested to BS476 pts6&7 Building Regulation Standards
Firend: Impregnated foam such as our FT-70/0 that is Class O & Class 1 rated when tested to BS476 pts 6&7 Building Regulations Standards
Fireflex: Polyurethane foam , open cell and interconnecting with excellent sound absorbing properties and and has flammability resistance to UL 94-HF1, such as our FT-30FRS,
HLB Foam: High load bearing foam
Flame Retardant Foam: Foam containing additives to slow the burn rate of the foam down or to completely self extinguish the foam when exposed to an ignition source. Necessary for foam to comply with international Flammability standards.
Flammability Specifications;
F.M.V.S.S.302 : Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard Test Method number 302 ( Automotive Industry Standard)
UL94 HF1 : American Under Writers Laboratory Test Method No. 94- Rating HF1 against the horizontal flammability test method (Electronics Industry Standard)
Kiss Cutting: Die cutting process that produces cut parts on a roll that are easy to dispense
Die cutting: The production process of producing individual cut parts to shape using tooling to make the shape
Lamination: The method for applying various substrates to foam usually by adhesive to make a laminate (2 or more materials combined together)
Flame Lamination: Method of combining materials/films/foils to foam using a flame laminator machine/process
Test Methods:
ASTM: American Society Of Testing Methods
Din: Deutsches Instit Fur Normung or German Institute For Standardisation
ISO: International Organisation of Standardisation
Polyurethane Foam/ Urethane Foam: Generic term for description of plastic foam produced by foaming with either a polyester or polyether polyol resin, in conjunction with water and toluene di isocyanate, along with various catalysts and blowing agents and colouring pigments.
Polymer: A naturally occurring or synthetic compound, consisting of large molecules made up of a linked series of simple repeated monomers.
Cross Linked: Cross links are bonds that link one polymer chain to another
Open Cell Foam: Refers to the structure of the foam as being homogenous open and interconnecting.
Closed Cell Foam: Refers to the structure of the foam cellular network being completely tight and closed, allowing the foam to be used effectively as a seal with water absorption usually less than 0.5%.
Homogenous: Foam that has uniform and evenly distributed cell structure that are similar or identical
Reticulated Foam: Polyurethane Foam that has undergone a secondary post treatment after foaming. In the process called Reticulation, the plastic cell widows within the foam cell are completely removed to render the cell structure completely open. The new homogenous and open cell structure makes the foam effective as a filter used in gas and fluid separation and purification. Various methods of Reticulation are available including chemical/quenched and gas methods
Sealing Foam: Foam with a tight and closed cell structure and as a gasket and when under compression forms an effective water/air tight seal.
SAB: Self Adhesive Backed
Thermal Insulation: Foam that has a closed cell structure with excellent thermal conductivity values that provide optimum thermal insulation properties.
Impregnated or Treated Foam: A secondary chemical process and method for improving the performance of the foam. Various formulations and dipping techniques will offer benefits of:
- Improved fire resistance
- Improved filtration characteristics
- Improved sealing properties
Chip Foam/Reconstituted Foam:
A by-product of foam conversion, virgin polyurethane foam is granulated and mixed with Toluene Di Isocyanate and steam and then pressurised to form individual blocks of chip foam or reconstituted foam.
Various densities of product can be made and typical applications are carpet underlay, packaging and acoustic insulation.
Polyolefin Foam: Generic name for polyethylene foam that can be produced cross linked or non cross linked. The cross linked expanded polyethylene foam is completely closed cell and of smooth even structure with water absorption being less than 0.5%. The non cross linked variety has a coarser structure, more suited for non technical applications such as general packaging. The cross linked variety is a technical foam and is suitable for a tranch of applications covering thermal insulation, gaskets/seals and performance protective packaging and case inserts plus much more.
Acoustic Foam: All foams have sound absorption properties , some better than others. Optimum sound absorption is achieved with technical foams that have a uniform, open and controlled cell structure.
XPE: Expanded Polyethylene Foam
Plastazote: Closed cell expanded polyethylene foam such as our FT-18P, FT-24P, FT-33P, FT-45P, FT-33HDP
Alveolit: Closed cell expanded polyethylene foam such as our FT-26P,FT-30P
Basotect: Melamine foam such as our FT-11M open cell foam
Armafoam Sound: High density, high performance acoustic, EPDM foam with controlled and open cell structure such as our FT-80 AB
PUF: Polyurethane film or Polyurethane Foam
Irradiated Foam: A process by which the foam has been exposed to radiation
HME Foam: Heat moisture exchange, helps to collect and hold some of the heat and moisture from a patients exhaled breath and to return them to the inspired gas mixture during inspiration
Memory Foam: Visco elastic foam, closed cell, that eliminates pressure points
CMHR Foam: Combustion modified high resilient foam
Hydrophilic Foam: Foam with a controlled cell structure that offers a good capillary response to fluids
Hydrophobic Foam: Water/oil repellent treated foam
Virgin Foam: Foam produced straight from the foam plant and without post treatment
Anti-static Foam: Specially treated foam that is resistant to the effects of static electricity
Conductive foam: Static dissipative
EPDM Sponge Rubber: Ethylene propylene diene monomer sponge rubber foam
Polychloroprene Sponge Rubber: Neoprene sponge rubber foam
Foam Converter: Company such as Foam Techniques Ltd that can convert foam, rubber and allied products into cut parts and finished products to Customers designs, drawings and specifications
Foam Fabricator: Company such as Foam Techniques Ltd that can convert foam, rubber and allied products into cut parts and finished products to Customers designs, drawings and specifications
Foam Manufacturer: Company such as Foam Techniques Ltd that can produce and convert foam, rubber and allied materials and finished products to Customers designs, drawings and specifications
THE Home Of Foam: Foam Techniques Ltd
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A Range Of Acquatic Filters
A Selection Of Cut Foam Parts
Ink Jet Cartridge Foams
A Range Of Medical Filters
Routed Display Packaging
A Range Of Foam Rollers
A Selection Of Foam Gaskets
Basotect Tiles
Our Block Stock
Adhesive Backed Acoustic Parts
Foam Gasket Application
Pofiled Acoustic Foam
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