Abstract
Since the introduction of CFC-free flexible foams in 1989, ICI Polyurethanes put significant effort into reducing density, so increasing competitiveness of all-MDI-based foams. This new generation of polyurethane systems not only makes it possible to produce low density flexible foams in large and increasingly complex moulds, but also demonstrates improved physical properties, exceeding the stringent requirements of the industry.
CFC -free combustion modified high resilience (CMHR) foams have now also been developed for the furniture industry capable of meeting even the most stringent large scale ignition tests.
As comfort properties of mouldings used for seating applications have always been of paramount importance, one area of concentrated effort has been in the development of vibration damping foams. While these foams were developed to meet low resilience requirements, they still maintain all the benefits of traditional MDI cold-cure systems - superior humid ageing and compression set properties, H-point retention and a wide hardness range.
The fast inherent reactivity of all-MDI-based cream foams not only allows for more rapid cure and thus shorter cycle times, but has also made it possible to develop systems containing low levels of catalysts - leading to excellent fogging performance in automotive applications. In addition, the new systems, which are suitable for both conventional and foam-in-fabric applications, have been designed with recycling in mind.
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