All About PU Foam

What is foam?
Is it safe?
Does it contain allergenic properties?
Why is there sometimes an initial odour, and what does the odour indicate?

 

What is foam?

The three main ingredients in all foams are Polyol, TDI and water. When these three compounds are mixed together the result is like baking a cake, whereby a liquid mix transforms and expands into a solid foam material. The process is called polymization.

Other chemicals are added in small amounts to create the different densities, hardness, and foam properties. All chemicals are checked regularly to ensure that they comply with Australian Health Standards and the EPA.

All our foams are either Ultra-Fresh or HealthGuard (anti-bacterial) treated for a healthier home environment, and manufactured in Australia without ozone-depleting CFCs.
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Is it safe?

Synthetic foam is in everything. In car seats, dining seats, office chairs, theatre seats, airplane, bus and train seats, lounges, home and hospital mattresses (yes even inner-spring mattresses), pillows, and even in the lining of quilting. It’s everywhere and has been for the past 50 years or so. History can only prove it as a no or low risk material. It is about the same as asking yourself if the polyester shirt you are wearing is safe to wear. History – or the product’s track records you could say – proves that it is. But at the end of the day it is a personal decision and up to you to decide.
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Does foam contain allergenic properties?

Quite frankly this is always a tough one as today in modern society some people are a lot more sensitive to a whole host of different products and airborne nasties than others are. This is primarily because from birth we are wrapped up in cotton wool, shielded from much bacterial action, as well as from a diversity of airborne matter. As a result of this restricted exposure to the natural elements many of us fail to build up adequate resistance, particularly to airborne matter. This situation applies more to city folk as statistics reveal a much lower level of allergenic reactions in country regions due to earlier and more constant exposure to plant life.

With regards to polyurethane foam, thousands of tonnes are produced annually in Australia and we are exposed to it daily in many forms. Hospitals accept polyurethane foam as safe and it is the dominant product used in hospital bedding.
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Why is there sometimes an initial odour, and what does the odour indicate?

Normally foams are odour free. This will depend on the formula itself as well as the production techniques. Although all of the catalysts may have a characteristic initial odour, many of them have been improved tremendously over the years to the point where any initial odour in fresh foam will rapidly disappear.

Once foam goes through its curing process a minimum 48 hours will normally see the odour dissipate. With memoryfoam (visco elastic foam) it takes longer due to the high density of the foam. We are working closely with our raw material suppliers to provide us with an odourless amine that will assist with the odour reduction. It should be noted that once aired and the odour has gone, it will not return.
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