Protective foam padding tubes are an ideal choice for scaffolding, children’s play centers and sports posts – not to mention car driveways and trampolines! They make for great car protection as well.
Closed-cell foam tubing is designed to increase grip strength, and comes in various colors for your convenience. Plus, its resistance to ozone, UV rays and oxidation make it an excellent choice for outdoor applications.
EPDM
EPDM rubber is an inexpensive yet long-lasting synthetic rubber compound that stands up well against extreme environmental conditions. It is resistant to UV rays as well as steam, alkalis, oxygenated solvents and oxygenated solvents; however, most oils and fuels do not mix with EPDM and adhesion can require in-mould vulcanised bonding for adhesion purposes.
EPDM foam comes in both open and closed cell varieties. Closed cell EPDM has tighter air pockets and is denser, as well as being more moisture resistant than open cell options.
As with all rubbers, EPDM has its own set of advantages and disadvantages. Its excellent resistance to ozone rays, water penetration and temperature stability makes it suitable for exterior applications while its good elasticity in cold temperatures make it useful in many circumstances. Furthermore, EPDM is less costly than NBR/PVC solutions while offering various colors and styles to match any project design aesthetic.
Neoprene
Neoprene (also referred to as polychloroprene) is a synthetic rubber material commonly used across industries for its thermal, oil, gas and weather resistance. Produced through vulcanization process that creates sulfur bonds within its material that give this material its desired qualities.
Closed-cell neoprene foam is soft yet resilient insulation material ideal for thermal and moisture regulation. It is resistant to ozone, sunlight, oxidation, many petroleum derivatives and chemicals as well as breakdown caused by air or water; its unique molecular structure allows it to resist breakdown caused by both. As a result, closed-cell neoprene is widely used for marine applications, wet suits as well as athletic gloves and knee pads.
Open-cell neoprene is permeable material that allows air and liquids to pass through freely, making it less dense than closed-cell versions yet still offering good heat degradation resistance and gas permeation resistance. Open-cell neoprene’s internal matrix has numerous chambers to absorb vibrations more effectively – an often counterintuitive feature in product designs that require sound absorption.
NPVC
PVC foam tubes come in various sizes to offer cushioned protection for pipes and other objects, as well as moisture resistance and superior insulation properties. Common applications for PVC foam include window insulation, air conditioning systems and plumbing works. Foam padding can also be used as scaffolding padding; health and safety regulations mandate covering lower scaffold tubes with this form of foam padding so as to avoid injuries to pedestrians on construction sites or public streets. PVC foam tubes can also provide protection for metal poles from damage caused by children playing on them, while easily installed PVC pads protect dugout posts and outfield fences in athletic fields from dugout posts and outfield fences. PVC foam tubes offer simple installation while remaining highly durable in their resistance to water and ultraviolet rays.
Polyurethane
Polyurethane foam is a flexible yet resilient material, ideal for many different uses. Often molded into different shapes to add cushioning for products such as pillows and mattresses, or used to support industrial or consumer goods – depending on its use of isocyanates and polyols; long chains with low crosslinking result in soft elastic polymers while short chains and higher crosslinking produce tough or rigid foams.
Axial compression tests were conducted on bamboo composite tubes featuring various combinations of tube diameter, winding layers, and foam filler to evaluate the effects of these parameters on failure modes and mechanical properties. Results show that adding foam filler may improve energy absorption characteristics in bamboo composite tubes – yet, optimal combinations still need to be determined.