Styrofoam for packaging
Polyurethane foam is soft polyurethane foam (PU) in the form of elastic cellular foam with excellent insulating properties. The material is durable, excellent shock absorption, good heat retention and free flow of air.
Types and application of packing foam
Packing foam is mainly used as a shock-absorbing layer during transportation of fragile objects (dishes, glassware) and works of art, as well as protection of corners and surfaces of furniture from mechanical damage on the way.
Small items are tightly wrapped with foam rubber, fixing it with adhesive tape.
For packing large items, foam sheets are usually used whole.
Shredded FPU is mixed with other fillers of boxes for moving.
Special chemical additives provide packaging FPU with antistatic properties, which allows it to be used for transportation of equipment that can accumulate static charge on the body.
Advantages of foam rubber for packaging
- Easy to cut and glue.
- Accepts any shape.
- Does not tear when stretched.
- Maintains its properties in the range of -40...+100 °C.
- Not susceptible to mold and bacteria.
The high porosity of foam rubber allows you to use a much smaller volume of packing material for moving. However, after unpacking, it partially loses its stated properties due to prolonged significant compression.
How to choose foam for packing
Most often when moving, standard sheet foam with a thickness of 20-30 mm is used, when it is not reasonable to purchase a whole roll of packing foam. In addition, this thickness is considered optimal for each facet when packing large items, furniture.
Use of foam packaging after moving
After unpacking things in the new place, the pieces of foam packaging that have become redundant can be used as:
insulation, e.g. for old wooden windows;
filling of armrests and backrests of chairs, armchairs, which are not characterized by heavy loads;
softening upper flooring in upholstered furniture;
stuffing of toys, poufs, beds for cats and dogs;
inserts in sewing products;
sponges and rollers for repair work.
The foam can be rolled into a tube and covered with fabric, turning it into a pillow roll. And it can be shredded into 2-4 cm cubes to make a pillow of any shape.
Sheets with a thickness of 3 cm are more universal. They can be used for making furniture, mattresses, noise and heat insulation for interior decoration. Foam sheets make excellent acoustic traps and sound-absorbing mats, which significantly reduce the noise level in the room.