Some classes of polymers do not melt upon heating while some can be melted and remoulded by applying heat. Polyurethane is an organic polymer and it has properties that can be customized for a large number of applications. PU is an abbreviated name of Polyurethane.
PU Foam is the largest single application of Polyurethane and accounts for a major share of all Polyurethane produced. PU Foam is a low density open cell foam and weighs very less. They can be rigid and hard or flexible and soft. This foam’s higher density renders it more resistant to breakdown and degradation, and its increased firmness aids in the casing of frequently used but delicate items that must be packaged snugly, like instruments or technical equipment. It can also serve as entry-level soundproofing. Some of the properties of PU foam are good abrasion resistance, good impact resistance, good toughness, low viscosity, high elongation, good flexibility, good tear-strength and low shrinkage.
Because of its properties, PU foam can be put to various uses. It is used for manufacture of flexible, high resilience foam seating, foam insulation panels, foam seals and gaskets, automotive suspension bushings, hard plastic parts etc. PU foam is excellent at noise reduction. Hence it is very useful at places requiring high sound playing such as recording studio and conference room etc.
PU foam is used as packaging inserts in flight cases. The foam material used for cushioning and packaging is open cell material. It is often lightweight, flexible and soft. The PU foam is a very good shock absorbent. It thus provides protection against scratches and breakages in transport cases. Although it is resistant to moisture, water, oil and other fluids, PU foam is usually more economical for foam packaging.