Chemical Forums
Specialty Chemistry Forums => Citizen Chemist => Topic started by: chillocrat on September 22, 2016, 08:00:25 AM
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I'm looking for a chemical formula for an elastic material similar to memory foam. Let's say I have a 12in x 12in x 36in (width x height x length) block of said material — the height needs to be able to squeeze down to 5 inches so that the final dimensions are 12inx 5in x 36in. It needs to be durable enough to resist scratches (unlike regular foam), and dense enough when compressed to 5 inches that I wouldn't be able to poke my index finger into it more than 1 inch deep (unlike memory foam). It needs to be non-toxic.
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Your needs look reasonable. Non-toxic is good to know but won't rule many elastomers out.
My suggestion is that you query an elastomer company. Dozens of plain elastomers and their foams (or even a tyre) look still possible based on you description, and the hardness is very widely adjusted for one single chemical composition, by the degree of cross-linking among others. That's a specialist job for a specialist company. And don't get afraid by qualitative answers: numbers and equations have a limited usefulness with rubbers.
Do you have some more constraints?
- Shall it give the deformation energy back (only natural rubber excels at it) or absorb it (PU does, and most foams too)?
- Do you accept a long-lasting deformation after a prolonged compression?
- Heat, cold? Both are difficult for rubbers.
- Prolonged exposition to sunlight? To UV? To ozone? Ionizing rays?
- Warm water for long? Chemicals? Operation in vacuum?
- What force shall compress your brick from 12in to 5in?
Try not to exaggerate these constraints, because some rubbers are really expensive and your brick is big.
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Maybe cork could fulfill your requirements, depending on the pressure that compresses it from 12in to 5in. At least it's nontoxic ad cheap.