Melamine foam is an effective absorber suitable for applications involving noise control and thermal management. Polymer Technologies provides a range of melamine foam insulation for a variety of industries, mainly power generation, construction, rail transportation, heavy truck, aerospace, medical, and marine manufacturing. The foam is widely used because it is a versatile, flame resistant material that is lightweight, semi-rigid yet flexible, and easy to customize. This allows manufacturers to save production time and labor costs during installation.
Industrial Quality Foam Insulation
All grades of melamine foam are utilized for thermal and acoustical insulation applications. The foam is soft with a spo
nge-like texture and usually has hydrophilic properties, but Polymer developed a hydrophobic version to increase the range of manufacturing applications. While standard melamine insulation can absorb water, our POLYDAMP® Hydrophobic Melamine is resistant to moisture and sheds water but doesn't compromise any of the material's other beneficial properties.
A Solution for Thermal and Acoustical Applications
Melamine foam is suitable for both thermal management and acoustical control because of its open cell structure. This versatility is especially useful for aerospace and rail transportation manufacturing where temperature and noise levels for passenger comfort is a concern. We offer a variety of melamine insulation with different facings, backings, and weights to meet a variety of application requirements.
While all types of our melamine foam can be utilized as a thermal and acoustical absorber, below details the specifications for both applications and notes which types of foam are most commonly used for each.
Thermal Insulation
Melamine foam prevents the convection and heat transfer of air, making it an excellent insulator. The foam has a thermal conductivity of 0.25 BTU-in/ft²-hr-°F at 68°F and is often used for heating, ventilation, and air condition duct lining. Due to the rigid cell structure of the foam, it does not settle or fall apart over time, unlike fiberglass, and remains an effective insulator for years.
Extremely lightweight, the foam provides exceptional resistance to heat, low-flame, and smoke without adding excessive weight during application. Our foam meets all aircraft (FAA, BSS, etc.), HVAC and transportation (rail) flame, smoke, and toxicity standards. The foam is also available with a variety of film facing and pressure-sensitive adhesive backings. Below are our most commonly used types of melamine foam for thermal applications:
- POLYDAMP® Melamine Foam (PMF)
- POLYDAMP® Hydrophobic Melamine Foam (PHM)
Sound Reducing Insulation
The open cells in melamine foam make it an excellent noise reducing insulation because sound waves can travel deeply into the foam. Once there, the sound waves are converted to low-grade heat in the open cell structure of the foam, stopping noise from reflecting, causing echoes and increasing noise levels. Our foam is a popular sound reducing material for manufacturers as it absorbs mid to high range frequencies while meeting aircraft (FAA, BSS, etc), HVAC, and transportation vehicle’s flame, smoke, and toxicity standards.
We offer a variety of acoustical melamine foam insulation to suit different weight requirements, as most applications typically range from the aircraft, aerospace, and transportation industries where the use of low weight, heat and flame resistant materials are necessary. Our wide range of possible solutions for noise absorbing melamine foam include:
- POLYDAMP® Melamine Foam (PMF)
- POLYDAMP® Hydrophobic Melamine Foam (PHM)
- POLYDAMP® Ultra-Flex Melamine Foam (PMF-UF)
- POLYDAMP® Ultra-Flex Hydrophobic Melamine Foam (PHM-UF)
- POLYDAMP® Melamine Foam ULTRA-LITE (PMF-UL)
- POLYDAMP® Ultra-Lite Hydrophobic Melamine Foam (PHM-UL)
Flame Resistant Materials for Safety
One of the key properties that sets melamine foam apart from other insulators is its flame resistance. Our foam can withstand temperatures between -300°F to 356°F and has an intermittent temperature range of up to +400°F. The fire resistant characteristics are a result of the high nitrogen content in the melamine resin used to manufacture the foam. The resin creates an extremely flame resistant insulation without the need of additional fire retardant chemicals.
Another feature that makes this foam insulation safer to use is that it does not drip or melt in the presence of open flame and exudes little smoke. Once the ignition and fuel source are removed, the foam will extinguish. The low-smoke and flame resistant properties make melamine foam a solution for engineers looking for a lightweight, but fire resistant insulation.
Saving Weight, Labor, and Cost
The unique properties of the foam make it the leading solution for optimum noise absorption and thermal insulation. It’s an ideal material for lining rail cars and airplane fuselage as it absorbs noise and controls temperature. The lightweight foam also helps to reduce the weight of equipment and results in enhanced performance and increased energy efficiency.
Melamine foam, like POLYDAMP® Hydrophobic Melamine Foam (PHM), can be used in combination with traditional materials, such as fiberglass, but can be used alone as a self-supporting insulation with little to no fasteners. Easier to install than materials like fiberglass, melamine foam decreases manufacturing time and labor costs, all without sacrificing sound absorption, thermal insulation, or fire resistance.
Looking for a way to reduce weight, labor, and parts while improving performance and passenger comfort? We can help. Learn how Polymer Technologies recently assisted a major rail car manufacturer save time and money by replacing traditional fiberglass insulation with POLYDAMP® PHM.
Interested in a solution for noise or thermal managment? Contact us today to find out how Polymer can help you find your material solution.
