When choosing materials for projects, one of the larger concerns becomes balancing performance and cost. There is no sense in paying more for capabilities that you do not need. Low permeability foams are ideal for many projects that involve low pressure gasketing. They can keep out dust, vapor and gases. And, they cost less than other projects that may be overengineered for your purposes. By giving you the qualities you need at a manageable price, you can keep costs in check, leading to better margins all around.
How is Permeability Measured?
When creating a foam material, you can decide whether it is appropriate for your specific needs through water seal testing. To test, a U-shaped sample that is 100 mm thick is cut. The sample is compressed between two acrylic plates until it reaches half the original thickness. One hundred milimeters of water is then poured into the U. To pass our tests, the water must stay at that 100 mm level for 24 hours.
Where can you use Low Permeability Foam?
Low permeability foam can offer air or water sealing in a number of environments. It’s available in sheets, rolls and bun stock and can be laminated to a wide range of pressure sensitive adhesives. Some of the places where low permeability foam is the ideal material:
- Weather-stripping in buildings and vehicles.
- Gaskets in HVAC, automotive and electronics.
- Vapor seals in appliances and data processing equipment.
- Packaging in areas where you need cushioning and a high level of shape retention.
Low permeability foam is available both as an open cell, low compression foam and as highly water resistant Superseal foam. All of these grades are available with a biocide and come in rolls, bun stock or sheets that range from .0125 inches to 2 inches thick.
Why Choose Low Permeability Foam?
Low perm foam has characteristics that make it an appealing option in a large range of applications. It’s a highly adaptable material, giving you the flexibility to create exactly the part that you need. In an application such as automobile manufacturing, you have a large variation in the distance between the blower and the wall. But, for effective gasketing, you need a material that is highly resistant the the passage of air. Low permeability foam can be compressed to different degrees to fit into the area, while providing the sealing that is needed.
It costs less than products that may be more than you need for the application at hand, allowing you to bring in projects at a budget that allows greater profitability. Some of the benefits of this material include:
- High resistance to abrasion and wear
- Excellent shape retention
- The ability to be laminated to several different pressure sensitive adhesives
- Properties that give you controlled cushioning
- Easily die cut
- Light weight
- Controlled permeability; this allows you to decide just how breathable your gasket or other part is made
- Resistance to water leakage
- Manufactured with out the use of damaging chlorofluorocarbons
We can make parts that are customized to your very needs and specifications. Our experts have years of experience choosing the right materials to give you the best performance possible. Contact us to discuss your needs and which items are the best fit your for application.
