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The ABCs of foam.
Just in case you need a refresher course on the lingo.
A
B
C
D
E
F
G
H
I
J
K
L
M
N
O
P
Q
R
S
T
U
V
W
X
Y
Z
A
ASTM: American Society for Testing & Materials; the ASTM develops standards for properties and performance of materials
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C
closed-cell foam: closed-cell foam can be thought of as a number of balloons stuck together in a structure; the water absorption is low and the structural integrity is greater than open-cell foam
cold crack: measures a material’s resistance to cracking when bent over a specific mandrel diameter in a cold laboratory environment
compression set: the amount of permanent set a sample has after being compressed a stated amount (%) at a specific temperature for a given amount of time and recovery period
crosslinked: cross orientation of molecular structure imparting superior physical properties
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D
density: a material’s weight per unit volume expressed in pounds per cubic foot (PCF)
dielectric constant: a comparison of a material’s insulation capability to that of air
durometer: a meter used for measuring the hardness of cellular materials
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E
elastomer: a synthetic rubber which through vulcanization, curing or crosslinking has changed an elastic state
elongation: percent (%) of original length a piece of material can be stretched lengthwise without tearing or remaining permanently distorted
energy absorption: interception of vigorously exerted power
EVA: ethylene vinyl acetate
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F
FDA: Food and Drug Administration
flammability: ability to support combustion; conformance indicated to flammability requirements valid above certain minimum thickness only
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I
irradiation: the crosslinking process that bonds the molecules of the polyolefin resin into a structure, giving the polymer increased strength and resulting in superior properties
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K
K-Factor: a measure of thermal conductivity of heat insulation, expressed as BTUs/sq.ft., 1: thick in 1 hour/degrees F; lower values indicate better insulating materials
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L
linear shrinkage: percent (%) of linear shrinkage when the material is exposed to a given high temperature for a set period of time
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M
M.S.D.S.: material safety data sheets
MIL STD: military standards that refer to specific physical properties; Mil-Std 670, Mil-R-6130, Mil-I-15280 and Mil-C-3133 refer to cellular products
Minicel: an extremely fine-celled, chemically crosslinked foam; ideal for a wide variety of applications that require a thicker foam; combines a smooth aesthetic feel with superior physical and chemical properties; available in a wide range of types, colors, and densities
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N
neoprene: a chloroprene-based rubber polymer with excellent oil and weather resistance
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O
open-cell foam: foams with an interconnecting cell structure much like a scaffold; open-cell foams absorb liquids and are generally softer than closed-cell foams
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P
PCF: pounds per cubic foot
polyethylene: a thermoplastic composed of polymers of ethylene
polymer: a chemical compound or mixture of compounds formed by polymerization and consisting essentially of repeating structural units
PSA: pressure-sensitive adhesives
PSI: pounds per square inch
PVC: polyvinyl chloride
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R
reticulated: a three dimensional network of strands, the membranes removed, providing nearly 100: void space and a high degree of permeability
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S
silicone: a rubber made from silicone elastomers and noted for its retention of flexibility, resilience, tensile strength and wide temperature range
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T
tensile strength: the maximum pounds per square inch (psi) a material can be stretched lengthwise without tearing
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U
Underwriters Laboratories Inc. (UL): an independent, not-for-profit product safety testing and certification organization; has tested products for public safety for more than a century; annually, more than 16 billion UL marks are applied to products worldwide (UL is not affiliated with Sekisui Voltek and does not endorse this website)
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V
Volara: a fine-celled, irradiation crosslinked foam that offers aesthetic appeal as well as an outstanding range of performance characteristics; offers a smooth surface, excellent consistency, gauge control, superior physical and chemical properties, low water absorption and vapor transmission; a versatile, dependable solution for a host of demanding applications
Volextra: extrusion coated Volara; extrusion coating adds a wide range of aesthetic and performance qualities to the superior properties of Volara’s crosslinked, closed-cell polyolefin foam; thickness, color, and texture are tightly controlled to adapt Volextra’s properties to a customer’s specific needs; available with a wide range of surfaces, provides a decorative advantage and allows for the design of composite materials with high-performance characteristics; abrasion, chemical, and moisture resistant; highly durable and ideal for demanding applications
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W
water absorption: amount of water absorbed by a polymer during submersion under
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