Polymer Foams Handbook

This handbook explores the applications of polymer foams, and the properties that make them suitable for so many applications, in the detail required by postgraduate students, researchers and the many industrial engineers and designers who work with polymer foam in industry.

It covers the mechanical properties of foams and foam microstructure, processing of foams, mechanical testing and analysis (using Finite element analysis). In addition, it uniquely offers a broader perspective on the actual engineering of foams and foam based (or foam including) products by including nine detailed case studies which firmly plant the theory of the book in a real world context, making it ideal for both polymer engineers and chemists and mechanical engineers and product designers.

* Complete coverage of the mechanical and design aspects of polymer foams from an acknowledged international expert: no other book is available with this breadth making this a plastics engineer's first choice for a single volume Handbook
* Polymer foams are ubiquitous in modern life, used everywhere from running shoes to furniture, and this book includes nine extensive case studies covering each key class of application, including biomechanics
* Offers a rigorous mechanical and microstructure perspective, plus a computer based chapter: Essential for engineers and designers alike.

Introduction; Basics of the mechanics of polymers; PU foam processing and microstructure; Bead foam processing and microstructure; Mechanical testing of polymeric foams; FEA modelling; Micromechanics of Open-cell foams; Air flow in open cell foams; Case study: Seating design; Case study: Sports and impact mats; Micromechanics of closed cell foams; Case study: Transit packaging; Case study: Running shoe foams; Case study: Cycle helmets; Indentation, crack and fracture toughness; Case study: Motorcycle helmets; Case study: Hip protectors; Case study: Thermal sandwich panels; Creep and creep mechanisms; Effects of water on polymer mechanics and performance; Case study: Rugby and Soccer protection