A new video series, Foam Engineering Lab, recently delved into the finer points of compression force deflection (CFD) for foam materials.

Although a durometer is the standard measuring tool for material hardness, CFD offers a better measurement for foam materials to determine the resistance to compression under load. To measure, the foam is compressed to 25% of the materials' original height.

This is informative for a wide variety of applications. For example, electrical connections in an automobile, especially in the era of EVs, must remain secure despite the extreme operating conditions of the average car. Foams with a reliable CFD will prevent arc currents, ensure thermal conductivity and also help buffer the components and battery from vibration. On the other hand, delicate devices, say for a medical device, may need something that better conforms to a patient's skin.

TBP Converting and Rogers Corporation have teamed up to guide engineers and technical professionals through the foam selection and converting science and process. The CFD tutorial is just one in a number of releases in their Foam Engineering Lab series. The entire series can be viewed on the TBP Converting YouTube page.