In the world of business, words and phrases are frequently re-defined for a specific purpose. This can unintentionally confuse those not aware of an industry's terminology, simply because of the contrast between a traditional definition and its tailored use. Compared to some industries, foam is fairly straightforward with its verbiage and descriptors. However, there are still a few uniquely used terms that are important to understand when purchasing a foam product.
If you were to tell an individual that foam has density, weight and firmness characteristics, he or she would most likely understand, given that all three are fairly common terms. However, one of the greatest misconceptions in the world of foam is how interrelated these characteristics are. It would seem, that using a traditional idea of the term, the density or weight of a material would go hand-in-hand with its firmness, and vice versa. In general parlance, this would likely be correct, but in terms of foam products, density and firmness are independent of each other and should be viewed as two separate attributes for evaluating a product.
Queen Bed Topper
While not quite misunderstood, foam density is often "over-applied." On a basic level, the density of foam is defined the same way as any other application of the word. In general terms, as well as in relation to foam, density is the quantity or mass of a material per a measurable size or volume. The method for determining the density of foam is by simply weighing a 1 cubic foot block of the material. This applies to all foam types, such as foam rubber, polystyrene, polyethylene, polyurethane foam and more. If a foam mattress or couch cushion is said to be 3 pound density, that means a 1 cubic foot sample of the exact foam being used would weigh 3 pounds. This is useful in many ways, but recognizing that density is an independent characteristic that does not dictate or correlate to feel and firmness may be the most important part of understanding this quality.
While a foam's density doesn't have an impact on the firmness of a product, it is a way of measuring a product's longevity and quality. The structure of open-cell foam consists of tiny bubble-like cells that are all interconnected to a degree, allowing transmission of air and fluid. Closed-cell foam's cells are fully closed off to one another. Ultimately, the density of a foam is dictated by both the size and thickness of these cells. A cell that has a thicker wall requires more weight and pressure to flex and/or break it down. Different than the cell's thickness, a cell's overall size dictates how much physical material is in the foam as opposed to air space. A majority of conventional foam types place somewhere between 8 pounds and 3 pounds for their density. However, incredibly dense foam materials can have values up to 10 or 15 pounds. High density foam, consisting of more performance material, is suited for jobs that receive rough or daily use, like couch cushions, mattresses, or automobile seating. Because a foam with more performance material will cost more, lower density foam makes sense as a cost-effective but comfortable material in applications like pillows, body bolsters or mattress toppers that are used infrequently.
A foam's density may also sometimes be referred to as its weight, which is a more literal interpretation of the term. They may even be used interchangeably depending on the retailer or manufacturer. For this reason, if you need to know the full, physical weight of the product, it should be explicitly stated so you are not told the material weight - its density. As an example, take a 6 inch thick, conventional foam queen sized mattress with a 2.8 pound density. The material weight (density) of the foam is 2.8 pounds. However, the overall weight of the product is about 46 pounds. This is particularly important to clarify for shipping purposes.
Firmness, on the other hand, is indicative of the physical feel of foam and how it resists or yields to pressure. Firmness is represented by a value called Indentation Load Deflection, or ILD. It is also called Indentation Force Deflection, or IFD, but they both refer to the same characteristic found through material testing. ILD is measured by taking a 15 by 15 by 4 inch sample of foam and measuring the pressure in pounds it takes a 50 square inch circular indenter to compress the material 1 inch. If the sample requires 36 pounds of pressure, its ILD is 36. Always using a 4 inch thick sample and compressing it 1 inch is why ILD values are sometimes called 25 percent indentation values, or other similar variances. It is also important that the foam sample adheres to the standardized size requirements, as different sizes of the same material can deflect weight differently. As expected, a firm foam will require greater pressure to compress it, generating a greater compression value, and a soft foam will require less and generate a lower value. Most ILD values for common foam products fall between 8 and 70, but can go as high as 120 to 150.
Firmness testing is a way of predicting how a foam material will bear weight in a real-world application. While it may seem to make sense, a material's firmness value should not be interpreted as reflective of its overall quality, only its physical feel. A foam's quality can however, be assumed by its density, with greater density making a better quality product. Based on structural and chemical makeup, some foam sheets with higher densities can have lower ILD values than foams with lower densities. Because of this, using these two qualities independently is the best way to match a material to a job or your preferences. An individual who desires a long-lasting, hard foam with firm support should look for products with a high ILD and density. People who desire a comfortable soft foam for an occasional use application would be best served by considering products with a low ILD and density.
Understanding the differences between these two foam qualities and what they do and do not represent can help in choosing what kind of product best fits your needs. Deciding where your desires fall on the range of each value is an excellent way to decide exactly what you want out of a product.
Special Price!!! Sleep Innovations 10-inch Sure Temp Memory Foam Mattress - Queen Size
Oct 24, 2011 08:39:23
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Sleep Innovations 10-inch Sure Temp Memory Foam Mattress - Queen Size Feature
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- The mattress is tightly compressed for shipment. Please allow a full 48 hours for it to fully expand.
Sleep Innovations 10-inch Sure Temp Memory Foam Mattress - Queen Size Overview
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