When choosing upholstered furniture, you should pay attention to the exterior finish and filler. So that the operation of products does not require expensive replacement of materials, you need to carefully consider the choice of foam rubber. With the right selection, it will last a long time and remain elastic.

Pros and cons

The material is a polyurethane foam consisting of many cells containing air. Raw materials are used to provide softness and resilience to various items. It is this filler that many manufacturers use in the manufacture of upholstered chairs and sofas. Such popularity is due to the following advantages:

• in the production of the filler, processing mixtures and additives are not used, so it is safe for humans. Material does not emit harmful substances and does not provoke allergies, therefore it can be used for the manufacture of children's furniture;
• polyurethane foam is resistant to fungus due to moisture resistance. Even with high humidity in the room, mold spores do not appear inside it;
• material is used in various temperature conditions and retains its characteristics in the range from -40 to +100 degrees;
• in comparison with other fillers, foam rubber has excellent soundproofing properties and is able to absorb noise;
• the product has both elasticity and resilience. It bends under the weight of a person, and after a while again restores its shape.

An additional plus of the products is the affordable price. It is due to this feature that all foam rubber upholstered furniture is distinguished by a budget price.

Like a number of other materials, foam rubber has some disadvantages:

• short service life - 7 years of daily operation;
• when burned, harmful substances are released into the atmosphere.

In general, polyurethane foam is characterized positively: its dense structure is great for chairs, sofas, corners, banquettes and other types of upholstered furniture.

Varieties of foam rubber

The material is widely used in furniture production. Due to its properties, polyurethane foam is used for the manufacture of mattresses, chairs. Products differ in their density:

• standard. Produced on the basis of one substance - the base polyol. Other products use two types of components to give them different properties. Standard grades are used in the manufacture of headrests and armrests. The average density of products is 25-30 kg per cubic meter. m;
• increased rigidity. In the production of the product, special polyols are used, which provide it with increased rigidity. The density of the material depends on the additives used. If the product has a density index of less than 30 kg / m³, it is used for the manufacture of mattresses and seats. If the parameter is greater than the specified figure, the raw material is suitable for the production of items with high loads;
• highly elastic. The density of the foam rubber is more than 30 kg/m³, it can withstand a weight of about 120 kg. This type of product is used in the manufacture of mattresses.

In addition, there are soft and super soft materials. They are made of polyurethane with softening properties. In some cases, special additives are used to provide a viscous structure and incombustibility. In this case, the composition contains flame retardant, melamine and special polyols.

Quality Options

To find out the quality of the material used for manufacturing, you should pay attention to the following indicators:

• strength;
• density;
• marking;
• compressive stress;
• degree of comfort;
• elasticity;
• residual deformation.

Each of these options should be considered in more detail. Its purpose depends on the density of the foam rubber. The higher the parameter, the greater the load it withstands and the more durable it is in operation.

Strength depends on two characteristics: the degree of elongation of the material before breaking and the force to make it. If the density is 25 kg/m³, then the breaking force is 130 kPa and the elongation is about 260%.

The compressive stress indicates the amount of force that must be applied to compress the sample. Rigid types are sometimes artificially strongly compressed to improve performance, and when cells with air are opened, the product returns to its structure.

The elasticity of products is determined by dropping a special test ball. When it hits the surface of the foam mat, the degree of rebound is set: if it rebounds high, then the product is rigid and has less elasticity.

To determine the permanent deformation, the sample is strongly compressed and left in this state under the influence of a certain humidity and temperature. After a certain period of time, the sample is measured and compared with established standards. Rigid material has little permanent deformation.

Comfort level indicators are also determined in two ways: there are support and comfort coefficients. These criteria depend on the softness of the material and the distribution of the load over the surface.

Appointment of different brands of foam rubber for furniture

There is a classification for the use of foam rubber in furniture production. Designations are indicated in Latin letters:

• HL and EL - indicate the material is hard and increased rigidity;
• ST - standard products;
• HR - products of highly elastic type;
• HS - soft and ultra soft variety;
• LR - indicates the viscous and soft structure of the foam mats;
• RTC - these symbols denote reticulated porous polyurethane foam.

In addition to Latin letters, manufacturers use numbers. The first two indicate the density of the foam rubber, the remaining two indicate the compressive stress. For example, if there is an EL 2545 marking, then this means:

• material of increased rigidity;
• density is 25 kg/m³;
• compression stress - 4.5 kPa.

Selection rules

Before selecting furniture foam, you should determine its purpose. For example, when choosing foam rubber for a sofa, you need to pay attention to markings with a density parameter of more than 28 kg / m³ and more. If you order furniture with a less dense material, there is a risk that the life of the item will decrease.

• check the thickness of the product: in the manufacture of upholstered furniture, it must be at least 3 cm;
• learn about the elasticity and rigidity of the foam rubber: a more rigid version is used for the seats than in the production of armrests or headrests;
• some types of material do not hold their shape at all, which indicates their poor quality, so be sure to check this indicator to make sure the item is reliable;
• ask what additives were used in the manufacture of raw materials to prevent allergies to certain components, especially when choosing children's furniture.

Pay attention to the marking: it will inform you about the features of the selected filler. No need to save on foam rubber, because a quality product will be the key to the durability of furniture.

What foam rubber to choose for upholstered furniture?

In order not to repair upholstered furniture regularly, you should take care of choosing high-quality materials in advance. This applies not only to the upholstery, but also to the filler that makes the furniture comfortable, soft, and comfortable.

Advantages

Foam rubber (its other names are polyurethane foam, polyurethane foam) is a modern filler, which is a foamed mixture of various polymers. Due to the high air content in thin-walled microcells, PPU is elastic, resilient, and durable.

Material advantages:

Resistant to mold;

Hygienic;

Does not emit dust, does not accumulate it;

Hypoallergenic;

Safe.

Thanks to its elasticity, furniture foam provides maximum comfort during use. A high-quality filler serves for several years without changing its characteristics.

Varieties

Sufficient density and elasticity are important requirements for the filler of upholstered furniture. If the sofa will play the role of a sleeping place, it is better to choose harder foam rubber - doctors do not recommend too soft surfaces for sleeping. If the furniture is intended, first of all, for rest, relaxation, you can prefer less rigidity. It all depends on the taste of the furniture owners.

The density of the foam used for upholstered furniture must be at least 30 kg/m³. Many PPU manufacturers recommend using for those exposed to heavy load upholstered furniture seats are foam rubber with a density of less than 35 kg/m³. Since the denser the polyurethane foam, the more expensive it is, this recommendation is often ignored in furniture factories. As a result, after a couple of years of use, the filler is deformed, the sofa becomes bumpy, uncomfortable.

Highly rigid foam rubber is optimally suited, it is indicated by the code EL. A more budgetary and much less reliable option is standard foam rubber (code ST). As a rule, they use it for inexpensive upholstered furniture - this explains the fact that sofas or armchairs sometimes lose their shape after a couple of years of use.

For the backs, and even more so the armrests, the load on which is much less than on the seats, you can choose foam rubber of a lower density. As for the thickness of the material, it is better if it is at least three, even four centimeters.

Only specialists can visually determine the type of foam rubber, while the rest can focus on its type and brand. The type is indicated in Latin letters (ST - standard, HL - rigid, HR - with high elasticity, etc.) The brand is four digits. The first two indicate the density (the density value of a standard polyurethane foam for furniture seats is allowed at least 30), the second two indicate the rigidity.

Foam rubber replacement

If a New furniture seems uncomfortable, it is likely that this is caused by insufficient quality filler. Replacing the PPU allows you to solve this problem with minimal cost. You can also change the foam in furniture that has already served its owners well. Such repairs go well with the replacement of the upholstery.

Content
In our fast-paced time, new technologies and materials appear so quickly that even specialists do not always have time to follow them. Scientific and technological progress has entered into all spheres of human activity, including the production of furniture. This suggests that furniture manufacturers are interested in introducing modern materials with improved characteristics and consumer qualities.

However, furniture makers are also interested in ensuring that their end product matches the price-quality ratio as much as possible. Based on this, when choosing a filler, they most often prefer foam rubber for upholstery of upholstered furniture.

Modern brands of furniture foam rubber can be conditionally divided into two categories: standard (ST) and highly elastic (HL, HR).

STANDARD GRADES OF FOAM FOR UPHOLSTERY

Standard brands of furniture foam rubber are produced using one basic component - polyol and have general quality indicators, which include: density, compressive strength, strength, elasticity, residual deformation, comfort.

The most important characteristics of furniture foam rubber from those listed are considered to be density and compressive strength. It is these values ​​that are reflected in the labeling of the material.

So, in the designation of foam rubber brands, letters and numbers are used. The letters mean the class of the material, the first two digits are its density (the higher this number, the harder and more durable the material), the second two are the compressive strength.

For standard grades, there is the following letter gradation:

ST - standard

EL - elastic

The designation ST includes polyurethane foam with a density of up to 25 kg / m3 and a hardness of up to 3.4-3.5 kPa. Foam rubber grades ST 2030, 2236, 2536 is suitable only for decorative pillows. Brands ST 2236, 2536 upholstered backs of sofas and armchairs, as well as armrests. They can withstand loads up to 50 kg.

The letters EL indicate that the density of the material exceeds 25 kg/m3 and reaches 60 kg/m2. Such foam rubber is used for the manufacture of seats for sofas and armchairs, for the production of mattresses.

As an example, consider the EL 3040 brand. The designation is deciphered as follows: EL is a brand of increased rigidity, 30 is a density of 30 kg / m3, 40 is a compressive strength of 3.5 kPa.

To find out what density of foam rubber is needed for the manufacture of a particular piece of furniture, you need to imagine what permissible load it will be calculated. This is clearly seen from the table below.

Table of required foam density

HIGHLY ELASTIC FURNITURE FOAM GRADES

Highly elastic grades of foam rubber of increased rigidity are obtained using special types of polyols. These include the following brands of foam rubber:

HL (hard elastic) - dense elastic

RDB (double bubble) - secondary foaming

HR (hard rubber) - increased elasticity (artificial latex).

HL (hard elastic) is a dense elastic foam rubber, the density of which exceeds 60 kg/m3. Suitable for the production of high quality furniture and orthopedic mattresses.

RDB (double bubble) - secondary foam rubber, has a density of 100 kg / m3. This is a very hard material that is only suitable for sports mats or exercise equipment. Well, or for "yogis" - lovers of extreme sports. Secondary foam rubber is also used in the automotive industry, construction, as a sound insulator.

HR (hard rubber) - foam rubber of high elasticity, it is also called artificial latex. The material is relatively new for the Russian furniture market, has a density of 30 kg / m3, increased elasticity, high level comfort and long service life, which reaches 15 years.

For many consumers, the discovery will be the fact that foam rubber and polyurethane foam are one and the same! The correct name of the material is soft polyurethane foam (PPU). Several decades ago in Soviet Union it was supplied by the Norwegian company Porolon, so the name became a household name.

General filler requirements:

1. Elasticity and elasticity.
2. Restoring shape after stress.

Hence the often skeptical attitude towards foam rubber products: they are short-lived, quickly “sag”, the old foam rubber crumbles. Its main disadvantage is combustibility, when burning, poisonous gas is released.

The qualitative characteristics of the material changed at the end of the 20th century, when various additives were added to the composition, which affected the density, elasticity, flammability, etc. Now PPU is used in the manufacture of the vast majority of mattresses.

Which one is used

The material is used in a variety of fields, for different needs they are selected according to certain characteristics. For mattresses, the density of foam rubber is important, the service life of the product depends on it. Use polyurethane foam with a density of 25 to 40 kg/m 3 . The density is indicated with two digits after two letters in the name, the next two digits indicate the stiffness index.

Mattresses are made from the following grades of foam rubber:

Damage to foam mattresses

Is there any harm to health from polyurethane foam mattresses? Foam rubber mattresses have been made for decades, and disputes over their harmfulness will not subside. And there are reasons for these disputes: synthetic "origin" and low orthopedic properties. Reviews of polyurethane foam mattresses can be viewed.

The material is made from synthetic components. They emit volatile substances with an unpleasant "chemical" smell. And some cheap models made in violation of technology retain it for a long time, or even the smell does not disappear at all. The released substances are hazardous to health, just like those that come out when a mattress burns. But it has not been proven how harmful the released substances are in a minimal amount.

On the video - the density of the foam rubber for the mattress:

Harm has not been proven, so polyurethane is the most common material for the production of mattresses.

Its advantages contribute to this:

1. Does not burn on its own. Combustion is supported by another source of fire.
2. Quickly restores shape.
3. For many, affordable.
4. Low thermal conductivity.
5. Vapor proof.
6. Waterproof.
7. Easy to transport.
8. Easy care.

The harm of foam mattresses also lies in low orthopedic properties. Doctors insist that sleeping place should be tough enough. Therefore, mattresses are supplied with an independent block of springs, a layer of coconut coir and other “devices”. And the usual foam version is often soft, bends a lot, which leads to a curvature of the spine. The body does not always rest well on the soft, in the morning there may be numbness of the limbs, stiffness of the muscles, tingling in them. As a result, at least - poor health and bad mood. And the maximum - problems with the spine.

Dimensions

The size of the mattress should match the size of the bed.

There can be a significant difference in the sizes of products from different manufacturers. For example, in the United States, it is customary to indicate the dimensions of mattresses in inches. For beds made according to European standards, an American mattress will not work. Hence the recommendation: choose a mattress and a bed from the same manufacturing country, and ideally from the same manufacturer.

Mattresses are available for children and adults. But what size should a standard mattress be? Standard lengths for adults are of two types: 190 and 200 cm. Width - 70 or 90 cm. Dimensions of 1.5 sleeping beds - 120 cm. Depending on the size, a mattress of 140 x 200 or 200 x 200 is suitable You can see the dimensions of one and a half bed linen for the bed.

Children's mattresses are available in standard sizes: 120 x 60, 140 x 60, 140 x 70.

Non-standard mattresses are made to order according to the required dimensions.

An example of a non-standard foam rubber mattress.

If there is a side around the perimeter of the bed, measure its height, the mattress should be at least a couple of centimeters higher!

Kinds

Foam mattresses are divided into types depending on the degree of rigidity of the products:

1. Soft. Reminiscent of a cozy downy feather bed. Comfortable, but harmful to the spine.
2. medium hardness. Quite quickly restore shape, provide normal support to the spine.
3. Rigid. These are orthopedic mattresses, the rigidity in them is provided by additional components (coconut coir or independent springs).

The mattress is made of highly elastic elastic foam rubber. It is also called artificial latex or latex foam rubber.

How to do it yourself?

Everyone needs a new mattress from time to time. And many can manage to do it themselves. It could be a go-to option. And it happens that the fabric on the mattress is still good, but the foam rubber has already “sagged”.

You will need:

1. Foam rubber.
2. Mattress cover material.
3. Felt.
4. Glue for foam.

If the spring blocks are preserved in good condition, then it is enough to replace only pieces of foam rubber with new parts.

Work algorithm:

1. Spread foam rubber on the floor, cover it with felt.
2. Glue pieces of foam rubber on the sides to hide the springs.
3. From above, when the glue dries, put felt, and then foam rubber.
4. The final step is to insert the foam rubber into the case.

If you need a new mattress without springs, then you first need to decide on its size. Purchase foam rubber of the required parameters. Then sew a mattress topper. Consider seam allowances when cutting. It remains only to place the PPU in the case.

On a do-it-yourself video foam mattress:

Manufacturers, cost of products

• Askona(Ascona). This company is the largest and most famous manufacturer of mattresses in Russia. The plant is located in the Vladimir region. Produces several lines. Many models use artificial latex. Mattresses are also quite expensive, because brand awareness and advertising are included in the price. Taking advantage of the promotional offer, you can buy a mattress made of polyurethane foam for a single bed measuring 90 x 190 for 4000 rubles. But there are offers of products of the same parameters, using PPU, costing up to 13,000 rubles. and higher.
• Consul. Production is located in Moscow. They produce products of different price categories. Cheap springless models - from 10,000 rubles. It is very profitable to buy a mattress on a promotion, with a good discount!
• Toris. The plant is located in the Murom region. The price of products is much lower than that of competitors: a mattress measuring 90 x 190, 8 cm high costs about 3000 rubles, depending on the thickness, the price also increases.

Attention! When choosing a mattress, carefully study the reviews on the forums!

• ORMATEK. Enterprise in the Ivanovo region. Ormatek - worthy competitor famous brands. The cost of a mattress for a single bed is 7000 rubles. Again, it's cheaper to buy stocks.

When choosing upholstered furniture, it is important to pay attention not only to the external component of the products, but also to the filler. So that during the operation it is not necessary to replace materials, it is necessary to choose high-quality foam rubber for furniture, which will serve for a long time and please with its elasticity.

The material is a polyurethane foam, which consists of many cells filled with air. Raw materials are used to give elasticity to furniture. Many users choose this filler as an internal component of sofas and upholstered chairs. This distribution is due to the following advantages:

• additives and processing mixtures are not used in the production of the material, which means that the furniture foam rubber is safe for humans. It does not emit substances harmful to health and does not cause allergies, so it can be safely used for furniture in a children's room;
• polyurethane foam is not exposed to fungus, because it has moisture resistance. Even with high humidity in the room, the chances of mold spores are negligible;
• You can use the material in various temperature conditions and differences in indicators. Foam rubber retains its qualities in the range from -40 to +100 degrees;
• compared to other materials, the filler has improved soundproofing properties, due to which it is able to absorb noise;
• foam rubber material has high elasticity and at the same time elasticity. It collapses under the weight of a person, but also easily restores its shape after a while.

The undeniable advantage of raw materials is its affordable cost. It is thanks to this indicator that all upholstered furniture, for which foam rubber is used as a filler, has a budget price.

Like any other material, foam rubber has a number of disadvantages, including:

• low service life: up to 7 years of daily operation;
• During the combustion of the material, hazardous substances are released into the atmosphere.

Kinds

The material was widely used in the furniture industry. Due to these properties, foam rubber is popular for the manufacture of chairs, mattresses. The resulting products have not only high elasticity, but also an attractive cost. Depending on the purpose of the material, it is more expedient to divide it according to the density indicators:

• standard grades - made on the basis of the base polyol, this is the only type of foam rubber using one type of polyol in the composition. For the remaining subspecies of the material, at least two variants of the substance are used, which give the filler different properties. This foam rubber found its application in the equipment of armrests and headrests. Its average density is 25-30 kg per cubic meter;
• material of increased rigidity - for the manufacture of such raw materials, special polyols are used, which give the product special properties of rigidity. The density of the compositions depends on the additives. If the material has a density index of up to 30 kg per cubic meter, it is used in the manufacture of seats and mattresses. If the characteristics exceed the specified figure, the raw materials are suitable for the production of furniture with high loads;
• highly elastic material - the density of foam rubber with high flexibility is more than 30 kg per cubic meter, products from such raw materials can withstand a weight of 120 kg. This type is widely used in the manufacture of mattresses.

In addition to the listed types of foam rubber, soft and super-soft compositions should be distinguished. They are made from polyurethane, endowed with softening properties. Also, in the manufacture of raw materials, special additives can be used to obtain incombustibility and a viscous structure. In this case, melamine, flame retardant and special polyols are used.

Quality indicators

To understand the quality of the material that fills the furniture, it is important to know the main characteristics by which it is determined. These include the following indicators:

• density;
• strength;
• compressive stress
• markings;
• elasticity;
• residual deformation;
• degree of comfort.

Each of these criteria needs to be considered in more detail. As already mentioned, the density of the material determines its purpose. The higher this indicator, the greater the load the material can withstand on furniture and the longer it will have operational terms.

The strength criterion is represented by two characteristics: the strength to break and the degree of elongation of the material before this break. With a density of 25 kg per cubic meter, this figure will be equal to 130 kPa (tensile strength) and about 260 percent elongation.

The compressive stress of a material indicates how much force must be applied to compress the sample. Rigid varieties of foam rubber are sometimes artificially equipped with strong compression to improve performance, however, when the cells with air are opened, the material returns to its structure.

Foam rubber markings have a separate classification, which will be discussed in our article below. The elasticity of the raw material is determined by the fall of a special test ball on it. It is thrown onto the material and the degree of rebound is checked: if the ball bounced high, then the foam rubber is hard and less elastic.

To determine the indicator of residual deformation, the method of strong compression of the sample is used, which in this state is left for a while under the influence of a certain temperature and humidity. At the end of the period, measurements of the sample are made, which are compared with pre-prepared indicators of the standards. Rigid foam rubber will have little permanent deformation.

The indicators of the degree of comfort are also represented by two designations: the support factor and the comfort factor. These criteria are due to the softness of the material, as well as the distribution of the load over the plane.

Appointment of various brands of furniture foam rubber

There is a certain classification, which involves the use of foam rubber of different markings in the production of various furniture. First you need to understand what a brand designation is. For this, Latin letters are used:

• ST - this abbreviation denotes standard type foam rubber;
• HL and EL - symbolize the foam rubber of a rigid type and a variant of increased rigidity, respectively;
• HS - with such symbols, the manufacturer marks soft and ultra-soft foam rubber; the furniture version can be seen in sofas;
• HR - this is how highly elastic foam rubber is designated;
• LR- letter designation soft and viscous material structure;
• RTC - this is how the manufacturer refers to reticulated polyurethane foam, which is characterized by high porosity.

In addition to Latin letters, numbers are used in the symbolism, the first two of which indicate the density of the foam rubber, the remaining two are responsible for the compressive stress. For example, if the filler is marked like this: EL 2545, then this will mean the following indicators:

• foam rubber of increased rigidity;
• material density - 25 kg per cubic meter;
• the compression stress is 4.5 kPa.

Depending on the marking, choose the purpose of the foam rubber. So, for upholstered furniture, indicators of 30-40 kg per cubic meter in the manufacture of seats and mattresses will be optimal. For children's furniture, characteristics in the amount of 25 kg per cubic meter are suitable. 1620 brand foam rubber is the softest and least durable, it is used for the production of furniture elements with a small load.

Grades 2336 and 2310 are most appropriate for teenage furniture, as they are considered hardy. They can also act as an interlayer for springs in the manufacture of mattresses. Marking 2536 indicates that this foam rubber is most applicable in the manufacture of furniture. It is the most popular raw material in the domestic production of upholstered sofas, chairs and armchairs.

Selection rules

Before choosing a filler for upholstered furniture products, it is important to decide what kind of product it is. If the foam rubber is chosen for the sofa, pay attention to the marking with density indicators from 28 kg per cubic meter and above. If you purchase a less dense material, there is a risk that the sofa will not last long.

• check the thickness of the foam rubber, for upholstered furniture it should be at least 3 cm;
• learn about the stiffness and elasticity of the raw materials: a more rigid option is suitable for seats than for filling headrests or armrests;
• some types of foam rubber do not hold their shape at all, which indicates their low quality, so check this criterion in the store to make sure that future furniture is reliable;
• ask what additives were used in the manufacture of raw materials in order to prevent allergies to certain substances, especially when it comes to children's furniture.

Pay attention to the marking, it is she who will help to tell a lot of information about the selected foam rubber. Do not save on the filler, because high-quality material is the key long term operation of furniture.