Testing will determine if your product may need to move to a higher ILD. We can avoid this by starting with a higher ILD, knowing that with compression the ILD will drop into a range that is acceptable. Compression may cause some ILD loss, as the pressure softens the cell structure of the foam. The higher the number, the firmer the foam. Yet it is often more cost-effective to go with a heavier foam that handles compression than with a lighter foam that can’t handle compression. We can control the volume loss by reducing the amount of compression. This volume loss exaggerates even more when the foam stays compressed for a long time. The biggest concern with lighter foams is that often they will not recover to their original volume after compression. In general, the lighter the foam, the less resilient it is to compression.

Densityįoam density ranges from around 1 lb/ft3 on the light side, up to 5-6 lb/ft3 or more on the heavy side. With conventional and HR foam, plan on doing ample testing before reaching any conclusions. This is not to say that HR foams can’t be compressed, but you should consider the potential issues. These foams place a higher stress on the compression machine and often experience recovery issues. HR foams are the most difficult to compress. This is because density and firmness play a large roll in compression (more to come on this). For conventional foams, they vary in density and firmness so their ability to compress differs. It’s known to handle significant volume reductions for extended periods of time without compromising the foam. Visco foam (also called memory foam) is a durable, dense, soft foam that lends itself well to compression. Visco, Conventional, and HR (High Resiliency) foam are the three main foam types being compressed today. There are a number of reasons for this, but the four main characteristics of foam that factor into its ability to be compressed and recover are type, density, ILD, and quality. All foams are not created equally and they all respond differently to being compressed. The properties of your foam are the foundation for a conversation about compression.

Characteristics of Foam that Affect Compression We’ve talked a lot about these benefits, so we’d like to focus on factors that you need to be aware of before you start compressing your foam products. The reasons are obvious – a smaller package has the potential for some substantial benefits. We hope it helps guide your discussions and allows you to make educated decisions when packaging your products.įoam compression is an exciting concept that has recently gained a lot of traction within the foam industry. He shares his insights to help customers better understand the variables that factor into the purchase of a compression machine. This article is part one of a multi-series on foam compression by our account manager, Jordan.

Recompress foam mattress