ASTM

American Society for Testing & Materials. The ASTM cites standards on properties and performance of textile materials.

Closed-Cell

A flexible expanded cellular material consisting of a non-interconnecting cell structure.

Cold-Crack

Measures the material's resistance to cracking when bent over a specific mandrel diameter in a cold laboratory environment.

Compression Deflection

The measurement of force or load necessary, to produce a 25% or 50% compression across the top surface of a foam specimen.

Compression Set

The amount of permanent set a sample displays after being compressed at a stated amount of percentage (%) at a specific temperature for a given amount of time and recovery period.

Cross-Linked

Cross orientation of molecular structure imparting superior physical properties.

Density

A material's weight per unit volume expressed in Pounds per Cubic Foot (PCF). This can be calculated by taking the material's weight in Ounces per Square Yard and dividing it by the material's thickness (1/8 in. =.125 in., 1/4 in. =.250 in.) in its decimal form and then multiplying it by a standard conversion of .0834 will equal the Density in PCF.

Durometer

A meter used for measuring a material's harndess.

Elastomer

A synthetic (man made) rubber-type material which, through Vulcanization, curing or cross-linking, has changed to an elastic state.

Elongation

Percent (%) of original length of a piece of material can be stretched lengthwise without tearing or breaking remaining permanently distorted.

Energy Absorption

A material's ability to intercept or absorb vigorously exerted power.

EVA

Ethyl Vinyl Acetate

Flammability

Ability to support combustion. Conformance indicated to Flammability requirements valid above certain thickness only.

FMVSS302

Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard 302 is a Dept. of Transportation standard for textile materials. This standard states that a material shall not burn or propagate flame across its surface at a rate of more than 4" per minute. the material's shall be certified if it stops burning before it has burned for 60 seconds from the start of timing, and has not burned more than 2" from the point where timing was started.

Hydrophillic

A material's ability to absorb water.

Hydrophobic

A material's ability to resist water.

I.F.D.

Indention Force Deflection is the amount of force necessary to indent an 8" disc plate 25% into the foam of a 4" thick sample 15' x 15" square.

K-Factor

A measurement of thermal conductivity of heat insulation. Expressed as BTU's per Square Foot. Lower values indicate better insulating materials.

Neoprene

A chloroprene-based rubber polymer having excellent oil and weathering resistance.

Nitrile

An Acrylonitrile-Butadiene based rubber having high ozone and good oil resistance.

Open-Cell

A flexible, expanded cellular material consisting of an interconnecting cell structure.

Ozone

A form of oxygen which is the major agent in the formation of smog or can be generated by a silent electric discharge from motors, transformers, etc.

Polyurethane

A thermoplastic composed of polymers of Ethylene.

Polymer

A chemical compound or mixture of compounds formed by polymerization (crosss-linking) and consisting essentially of repeating structural units.

Polyurethane

(Polyester) A material produced by reacting diisocyanates with organic compounds resulting in a mass of open 12-sided cells.

PCF

Pounds per Cubic Foot (See Density for calculation).

PSI

Pound per Square Inch.

PSA

Pressure Sensitive Adhesive.

PVC

Poly Vinyl Chloride.

SBR

A rubber polymer consisting of Styrene and Butadiene molecules.

STC

Sound Transmission Class. The term is given to the overall rating of an acoustical material as a summary of all the Sound Transmission Loss values based upon their frequency levels.

Tensile Strength

The maximum PSI a material can be stretched lengthwise without breaking or tearing.

TPO

Thermoplastic Poly Olefin (Polypropylene).

TPR

Thermoplastic Rubber.

Water Absorption

Amount of water absorbed by material during submersion under pressure.