TM 1008:2011

Determination Brittleness of Polyurethane Foam

Version final: 01-03-2011

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE

Foam has the tendency to become brittle during curing at lower ambient temperatures. This test procedure gives a possibility to judge the behaviour of an OCF, stored at a certain canister temperature and cured at a certain ambient temperature.

TOOLS

•    Climate room with accuracy of ± 1 °C

•    Piece of carton or paper

PROCEDURE

Brittleness

a)    Acclimatise test canister at desired temperature.

b)    Put a piece of paper or carton in the climate chamber and acclimatize for at least 24 hours at the desired ambient test temperature (which can be different from the temperature of the canister).

c)    Shake the canister well and extrude a bead of foam horizontally on the piece of paper or carton (dimensions of the bead: circa 3 cm diameter).

d)    Measurement of the brittleness should be carried out after a specified time and temperature.

e)    The brittleness is assessed by pressing gently the surface of the foam (compressing it 5 to 10 mm) with a finger.

f)    The result is expressed by a numeric value:

1.    The foam is flexible and makes no noise at all,

2.    The foam creaks but does not break,

3.    The foam breaks,

4.    The foam pulverizes.

g)    The test report should at least contain:

1.    Product description,

2.    Canister temperature,

3.    Ambient test temperature,

4.    Time of measurement,

5.    Brittleness numeric value.

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