Prediction of Cushion Curves for Closed Cell Polyethylene-Based Foams. Part II: Experimental

Abstract

In this paper the compressive impact behaviour of a collection of low density polyethylene (LDPE) and polyethylene-co-vinyl acetate (EVA) based foams with different densities, during purely compressive impacts, has been studied. The experimental cushion curves for these materials were compared with several theoretical models. The results have shown that the simplest models, adiabatic and isothermal, are able to fit the experimental data and to predict qualitatively the evolution of the minima in the cushion curves as a function of foam thickness and falling height. In addition, it has been shown that the impact behaviour of closed cell polyethylene based foams deteriorates after compressive creepperiods. This fact should be considered in the design of real cushion systems.