title: Polyurethane foams: effects of specimen size when determining cushioning stiffness.
abstract: Polyurethane (PU) foams are used as inexpensive materials for reducing interface pressure in a number of rehabilitative applications, particularly seating and prosthetic limb interfaces. Specimens of three different PU foams were cut to four different sizes and compressed according to ASTM protocols to determine their stiffness capabilities. It was found that the test results varied according to the relationship between the size of the test specimen and the test indenter. It is recommended that investigators create a testing situation that reflects their application when determining the cushioning capabilities of these materials.
authors.affiliation: Department of Mechanical Engineering, University of Alabama, Tuscaloosa 35487, USA. btodd@coe.eng.ua.edu
authors.forename: B A
authors.initials: BA
authors.lastname: Todd
authors.forename: S L
authors.initials: SL
authors.lastname: Smith
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Vongpaseuth
mesh_terms: D019245:Compressive Strength; D004548:Elasticity; D006801:Humans; D008422:Materials Testing; D009989:Orthotic Devices; D011140:Polyurethanes; D019736:Prostheses and Implants
chemical_list: D011140:Polyurethanes