Whether at work, at home or in the car, we have become conditioned to accept noise as the norm in life and not the exception. But with Foam Factory, Inc.’s economy-sized 72 inch by 80 inch sheets of charcoal eggcrate acoustical foam, any area can experience improved sound quality and less residual noise, cutting a little stress out of our daily lives. The use of acoustical foam isn’t just restricted to recording professionals or audiophiles. With applications ranging from ... (Read More)
Category: Technical Info
The Types, Qualities, and Benefits of Foam Rubber Products
Foam rubbers are durable materials made of varying blends of polymers and elastomers that produce some of the most versatile and unique materials in the world of foam. With their substantial list of applications and characteristics, neoprene sheets and gymnastic rubber are two of the most useful and utilitarian products in Foam Factory, Inc.’s catalog, and can easily be customized to fit any application for which their attributes provide the best solution. A medium-weight, resistant material, neoprene is a ... (Read More)
Understanding Foam Firmness and Compression Strength
When evaluating a foam product for use in a comfort application, perhaps the most useful testing value for determining its usability is compression strength. This value rates a foam’s feel and firmness by testing how it yields to or supports applied weight. These values are the easiest way to categorize materials, making the selection of a foam type easier by narrowing the field and even helping make a purchase decision if the chance to feel the foam in person ... (Read More)
Polyethylene Foam: Its Uses, Characteristics, and Varieties
With versatility that makes it the perfect product for a multitude of projects, polyethylene is one of the most utilized but least recognized foam materials on the market. While polystyrene is known for its use in cups and insulation and the soft, and squishy feel of polyurethane foam is something everyone is familiar with, polyethylene is often a forgotten material. But from packaging and flotation devices, to masonry supplies and shock absorbers, it’s hard at work around us every ... (Read More)
The Traits of Ester vs. Ether-Based Polyurethane Foams
To say something is “made of foam” likely produces one of two mental images of the material; the white polystyrene seen in drinking cups, coolers, and packing peanuts, or the squishy, spongy material that makes up foam footballs and polyurethane sheet packaging. These are both correct obviously, but as is true with many things, there is more than meets the eye with foam. Familiar, open-cell polyurethane foam is actually divided into two categories, ester-based polyurethane and ether-based polyurethane. If ... (Read More)
Examining Foam Density, Weight, and Firmness Characteristics
In business and industry, words are frequently taken from everyday vernacular and re-defined to serve a specific purpose. These niche languages can unintentionally mislead or confuse people who are familiar with the common meanings of words and phrases, but not an industry’s jargon. Compared to other industries, foam is relatively uncomplicated and easily understood, but at Foam Factory, Inc., we feel it is important to clarify a few misnomers and assumptions about foam and foam products to help individuals ... (Read More)
Understanding and Applying Shore Durometer Hardness Values
Understanding the hardness of a material that can be used in a variety of applications is vital for selecting its proper use. With the different varieties of foam and the multitude of uses for each type, hardness is one of the most important factors that help decide the practicality of a particular foam type in a given application. The hardness testing for foam and foam rubber products is performed by a Shore Durometer, which assigns a hardness value to ... (Read More)
Expanded Polystyrene Foam: Uses and Qualities
As one of the world’s most popular materials, we use polystyrene daily, often times without even noticing. Beyond the visible goods we encounter (cups, food trays, coolers, toys and packaging material), polystyrene is also used as a component in insulation, flotation devices, and construction. Its versatility, practicality, and affordability is why Foam Factory, Inc. offers polystyrene in 4-pack quantities to suit commercial, residential, or personal needs, whatever they may be. There are two main varieties of polystyrene foam, defined ... (Read More)
Understanding the ASTM E84 Standard for Fire Retardancy
When researching a product, its quality, functionality, and affordability are often the biggest factors in the purchase process. However, the single most important, yet often overlooked area is safety. Regardless of how well it measures up in other areas, a product isn’t worth the investment if it isn’t safe. Product safety is taken seriously at Foam Factory, Inc. and is why all the acoustic foam we manufacture and sell meets the ASTM E84 flame retardancy test at its highest ... (Read More)
