How Is Art Foam Made?

Art foam is manufactured from polyurethane

Art foam is, simply enough, a term for work of arts that come in foam form. The foam used in art foam is made from polyurethane, a type of plastic.

Background

Polyurethane foam is made from the plastic known as polyurethane. To create the foam, a number of chemicals are mixed together to create a plastic. A gassing agent is then added to create cellular gas bubbles, which happens at a high temperature.

Slabstock Production

Slabstock Production is the method used to create most art foam. A mix of a polyol and a diisocyanate are poured onto a conveyor, where it expands into a slab. The slab is then cut, stored and cured for up to a day. This slab is then shaped into art foam.

Molding

Molding is an alternate method of creating art foam. A mix of a polyol and a diisocyanate is poured into a shaped mold, where the raw foam is turned into art foam right away.

References

• Center for the Polyurethanes Industry: Manufacture
• Polyurethane Foam Association: Polyurethanes at a Glance
• All About Foam: Foam Facts