Rachelle Wilber https://bjbenterprises.com 2m 488 #foam

The views of this article are the perspective of the author and may not be reflective of Confessions of the Professions.

Foam materials are varied and versatile — they come in a variety of types for different applications. They are used in everything from bathroom cleaners to mattress materials. While there are quite a few that you might know about, there are four surprising kinds of foam you should know about, especially in how they are used.

Dry Fast Foam

This foam is an effective choice for many outdoor uses. It doesn’t absorb water, and this helps it avoid mildew, rot, and mold. Dry fast foam also has an open-cell structure that gives it buoyancy and resilience. Common applications include padding or filtering for things subjected to lots of liquid or moisture. This makes it especially useful for boats.

Closed Cell Foam

This kind of foam is also something that doesn’t absorb water. It’s also impervious to petroleum substances. It floats, and it isn’t biodegradable for durability. That means it’s used quite a bit in exercise mats and other exercise equipment used in high-impact aerobics. Many mechanic’s boxes also use it for the lining.

Expanding Foam

Expanding foam is used for more than just insulation. While some applications exist for insulation, hole sealing and other things, there is a more interesting form of expanding foam. Expanding foam is generally used for mold making. Since the foam expands, you can suspend anything in it, let it expand and then use the empty space as a mold. Mold making has made it’s name in the film industry aiding in prop creation, prosthetics and other interesting uses. Bruce, the shark from the movie Jaws was made using a latex foam. Expanding foam is now used to make prosthetic limbs for medical patients. This is because expanding foam makes the prototyping process much quicker.

Memory Foam

This is also called viscoelastic foam at times. Whatever you choose to call it, it is a high-caliber foam that actually physically conforms to the body shape of the person sitting or sleeping on it. It was originally designed for seats on the space shuttle program to keep astronauts comfortable while enduring multiple magnitudes of normal gravity. These days, it is commonly used in many mattresses and cushions. It also has therapeutic applications for many different physical ailments and conditions.

Modern manufacturing is making use of foam materials in new and creative ways all the time. Keep your eyes and ears open for products using foam in inventive ways to improve your quality of life.

About the Author

Rachelle Wilber is a freelance writer living in the San Diego, California area. She graduated from San Diego State University with her Bachelor’s Degree in Journalism and Media Studies. She tries to find an interest in all topics and themes, which prompts her writing. When she isn’t on her porch writing in the sun, you can find her shopping, at the beach, or at the gym. Follow her on Twitter and Facebook: @RachelleWilber; https://www.facebook.com/people/Rachelle-Wilber/100009221637700/

(