Latex rubber foam

Background

Foam rubber is found in a wide range of applications, from cushioning in automobile seats and furniture to insulation in walls and appliances to soles and heels in footwear.

Foams are made by forming gas bubbles in a plastic mixture, with the use of a blowing agent. Foam manufacture is either a continuous process for making laminate or slabstock or a batch process for making various shapes by cutting or molding.

There are two basic types of foam.

Foam rubber roll

Flexible foams have an open cell structure and can be produced in both high and low densities. Applications include cushioning for furniture and automobiles, mattresses and pillows, automotive trim, and shoe soling. Rigid foams are highly cross-linked polymers with a closed cell structure that prevents gas movement.

Their main application is as insulation for buildings, refrigerators and freezers and refrigerated transport vehicles.

History

Originally, foam rubber was made from natural latex, a white sap produced from rubber trees.

As early as 500 B.C. , Mayans and Aztecs used this latex for wate