Testing Foam

Verifying quality and reliability through polymer foam testing ensures these materials meet industry standards and safety requirements specific to their intended use. Through our state-of-the-art equipment and machinery, we conduct thorough polymer foam testing, evaluating the mechanical, thermal, and chemical properties of polymer foams and foam-based materials in our polymer testing lab.

First, we evaluate the data sheet for the foam then it is hand mixed according to instructions to give us a “gold standard,” then run the chemicals through our E-Z Flow demo system, fine tuning it with cartridge orifice ratios, if necessary, and temperatures, until we get the same result as the hand mix.

During this process, we evaluate several of the foam’s parameters during the dispensing process:

• Cell structure – Coarse, average, fine
• Resilience – For packaging or cushion foams, not for rigid closed cell types
• Mix – Any separation? Any unmixed “A” chemical at the bottom of the sample?
• Skinning – How good is the skin that forms on the outside of the sample?
• Rise – Fast or slow? Faster on the “front end” or the “back end”? Consistent from one sample to another?
• Odor – Strong or faint? Astringent? Unpleasant? Not all foams smell very good.

We also do a density check to confirm the pounds per cubic foot and a shrinkage test to make sure the finished foam doesn’t shrink after dispensing. If it’s a closed cell foam in a flotation application or other application that comes in contact with water, we will also conduct an absorption test. The results of these tests are available to any customer who is considering using this foam.

If you have a foam that you’d like tested or if you have an unique application, contact us about our test procedures.