Requested White Paper
The Challenge of Making Foam Stick
Foam materials made from rubber and plastics are a ubiquitous part of modern life,
serving as indispensable components in everything from advanced medical and aerospace
applications to everyday consumer items. A wide variety of foam materials have been
developed that effectively and reliably serve many different functions, including sealing,
temperature insulation, sound attenuation, vibration damping, and shock absorption.
However, when foam products fail, it may not be because of a deficiency of the foam
material, but because of problems with the adhesive system. All too frequently,
adhesives do not stand up to the rigors of the end use application, or they break down
during transport and storage, prior to the foam component being finally affixed.
Inadequate adhesive systems also cause problems during the fabrication and conversion
of foam products, resulting in product damage and waste, and in disruptions of the
manufacturing process.
