Visco Elastic FoamsAnother type of foam, similar to FPF, has gained wide popularity in recent years. Known as visco elastic foam, it is formulated, and manufactured in such a way that it exhibits significantly different physical characteristics. These properties make it very desirable for padding in seating and bedding applications. You may hear this type of foam referred to by a variety of names such as NASA foam, Swedish mattress foam, or memory foam. | | A hand print left in Confor foam |
What makes memory foam unique is the way it responds when compressed. Most foam acts effectively like a spring. As such, the amount that the foam is compressed (strain) is proportionate to the force required to compress it. This relationship, usually referred to as the spring constant, is approximately linear as defined by Hooke’s Law. Visco elastic foams behave differently though. For them, this relationship changes with the rate of compression, and the temperature of the material. Specifically, the spring constant increases with higher rates of compression, and decreases with higher temperatures.These characteristics also result in visco elastic foams having a damping ability, or the ability to absorb and dissipate energy. Again, FPF acts more like a spring. It absorbs mechanical energy, and then releases it again as mechanical energy. Visco elastic foams absorb mechanical energy, and convert much of it into heat energy. This can be very beneficial for protection from impact loads.
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