What's the Difference Between Polyurethane and ...

When shopping for any type of padding, whether it be for an athletic institution, for use on walls for protection or for tumbling exercises such as gymnastics, you have likely been met with some confusing verbiage.

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As each type of padding is filled with a different type of foam, the materials used and the way in which it is constructed can vary widely depending on the intended use of that particular piece of padding.

When reading specifications, the &#;ingredients&#; used to describe what they are made of can elicit the feeling of ready obscure ingredients found in some of your favourite foods. For many of us, we are unsure of what exactly they mean, what they are made of and which are good for us.

Two such ingredients found in most of our padding are polyethylene and polyurethane. While somewhat confusing by name, their differences are quite important when selecting padding for your home or facility.  As such, we will break each down below and give a few examples as to which each is best suited for.

Polyurethane

When it comes to foam composition, polyurethane is the softer, more gentle filling compound used in padding applications. This open-cell foam comes in a number of different degrees of softness and allows for a great deal of airflow through the foam itself. For this reason, it reacts much more like a cushion than something intended to stop something quickly. Built to absorb impact, polyurethane foam is used in thicker padding applications such as stunt mats and crash pads.

Polyethylene

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Acting in an opposite manner as the above, polyethylene foam is a firm, closed-cell foam featuring a tightly woven cross-link composition that allows it to react as a firmer type of foam. This type of foam is common in regular-use padding in which participants are landing on their hands or feet and is also what we use standard in our wall padding applications.

If you own a retail or an e-commerce business or perhaps run a packaging unit, you know the importance of high-quality packaging material. There are generally two major options in terms of material, polyurethane and polyethylene foam. When other packing materials are not suitable for sensitive consumer goods, materials and electronics, these two foam materials emerge as the best alternative solution. But which one should you choose for your product packaging? This blog will help you choose wisely.

Here Is How Polyethylene and Polyurethane Foam Are Different From One Another

Polyurethane Foam or Polyester

Also known as polyester, polyurethane is an open-cell foam material that is the same spongy material used in making pillows and mattresses. It can absorb liquids and is perfect for packaging because of its lightweight, flexibility, and other amazing properties. With its high resistance to scratches, it is mostly used in packaging electronic goods such as plasma TVs, computer monitors, and the face of LCDs. 

Polyethylene Foam or PE

What makes polyethylene foam very unique is that it is much more rigid than polyester, and also has properties similar to styrofoam. However, it is even more flexible than styrofoam because PE foam will not split or break when bent. Moreover, PE foam has a closed-cell structure, and hence, it is not susceptible to liquid penetration or breaking. This makes it a much better packaging option for products that must be protected against moisture or other liquids, such as the shock absorbent PE foams manufactured by Alcot Plastics Ltd., a leader in making quality polyethylene products.

Another distinguishing feature of PE foam is its colour and foam density. PE is denser and can be almost considered like softwood, making it an ideal choice in packaging where an item is pretty hefty. Finally, in terms of cost, both foam materials are similarly priced, but the cost increases with higher density foams.

From manufacturing backer rods, splines, and even pool noodles, Alcot Plastics Ltd. has been a major player in the industry for more than three decades. Browse through our catalog or simply give us a call regarding your requirements.

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