Foam Selection

Foam Distributors stocks a wide variety of foam, including Polyester, Polyethelene, Expanded Polstyrene, Filter foam, Hi and Lo Conductive, and Polyurethanes. If we do not carry the exact type of foam that your package requires, it can be ordered and be available usually within a few days.

Product Line Offering

Foam End and Side Caps Foam Corner Blocks Foam Laminated to Corrugated Hi & Lo Density Conductive Anti Static Foams Military Spec Foams Felted (Flocked) Foam Custom Case Inserts

Services Offered

Custom Package Designs Foam Fabrication Router Cutting Hot Wire Cutting Hot Blade Cutting Die Cutting Convolution Product Labeling Drop Testing Glossary of terms

Glossary of terms

Recycling Most packaging foam is recyclable. Polyurethane is ground up rebound, and is used for carpet pads. Polyethylene is ground up, returned to pellet form, and reused in Polyethylene products. Polystyrene is also ground and reused in manufacturing Polystyrene products.

Antistatic A non static generating material. Antistatic foam is usually pink in color.

Convoluted A process in which flexible foam passes through a machine which distorts and cuts it in a way that leaves interlocking high and low points. This is commonly used for items such as circuit boards which can have an uneven surface and need something that can conform to it.

Polyurethane (aka: Ether, Flexible) Flexible open cell foam of various densities, poured to form large "buns" Which can be sliced to any thickness.

E.L.E. Ester-like ether. Polyurethane foam which has a look and feel of polyester.

Polyester (aka: Ester) government spec. Flexible foam which is highly durable, flame retardant, and resistant to discoloration.

M.D.L. (Multi Density Layer) A low density Polyethylene foam laminated to a thin layer of High density Polyethylene. Used for hinge pack designs with little to no fabrication.

Expanded Polyethylene (aka: Ethafoam) Semi rigid, closed cell foam which is extruded into planks of various thickness. This is usually used for heavier items.

Ethalam Polyethylene roll stock which is laminated in layers to achieve a desired thickness.

Conductive Accepts static electricity but dissipates the charge throughout the foam thus reducing it to a harmless level.

Nominal (Nom) When polyethylene is poured into planks, it expands slightly as it cools. Usually expanding approximately 1/4"

Skive Process of shaving polyethylene planks to produce a net thickness.

Expanded Polystyrene (aka: E.P.S.) Rigid foam which is fabricated and cut using wire, heated with electricity. It is also available in antistatic.

Pluck (aka: stripping) The process of removing any die cut sections from a piece of foam.

Drop test The method of determining if a package design adequately protects the contents.

"G" A unit of measurement used when drop testing. This rating tells us how fragile an item is and how much impact force will damage it 10 - 35g > fragile. 35 - 60g > semi-fragile. 60 - up > durable.

Density The weight per cubic foot. (12" x 12" x 12")

I.L.D. Indent Load Deflection. this numerical rating determines the firmness of the foam 30 - 50 psi > soft. 50 -75 psi > medium. 75 - up > firm. (aka: I.F.D. - indent force deflection)

Send mail to David@FoamDist.com with questions or comments about this web site. Last modified: October 30th, 2006