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Alveolen NSA shock-absorbing foam
Adligenswil, Switzerland, October 2024 – Sekisui Alveo, European manufacturer of high-quality polyolefin foams, has developed a new product with unique shock-absorbing properties. Alveolen NSA is a polyethylene-based thermoplastic foam that is outstanding for demanding applications including orthopaedics, protective elements for sports, vibration protection, child seats, and packaging.
With over 40 years of development experience, Sekisui Alveo has created a special formulation of its well-known Alveolen foams to meet the demanding, standardized requirements for body-protection equipment. Alveolen NSA stands out due to its shock-absorbing properties and its viscoelastic behaviour. Physical forces acting on the foam are absorbed and dissipated and are not returned or even released after a quick compression phase.
Body protection and comfort
The outstanding shock-absorbing properties of Alveolen NSA make the material a first choice for use in personal protective equipment for job-related and leisure activities. Tests conducted by TÜV Rheinland according to EN 1621 confirm that the foam meets the requirements for the use as protector for motorcyclists. Applications as padding for body armour and for protective waistcoats for police or military personnel are also possible. Alveolen NSA can reduce the product weight while providing the same level of protection, which noticeably increases wearer comfort.
Ideal for orthopaedic applications
Thanks to its material properties like viscoelasticity and Shore A hardness of 35, Alveolen NSA is ideal for demanding orthopaedic applications. The foam has efficient shock absorption and can be used as a middle layer in 3-layer diabetes-adapted insoles. The closed-cell material has been evaluated as per ISO 10993 (Biological Evaluation of Medical Devices) and, like all Alveolen products, can be sterilised and washed. As it is free from heavy metals and other prohibited substances listed by REACH or RoHS as well as being free from latex and sulphur, the material meets the relevant standards in the respective areas of application.
Easy and efficient converting
Alveolen NSA can be easily processed using most standard methods like thermoforming, pressforming, cutting, water-jet cutting, milling, punching, sawing, plotting, gluing or composite laminating. In contrast to rubber or PU materials, the thermoplastic properties of foam allow it to be moulded in several steps to achieve the desired finished geometry. It retains its softness and shock-absorbing properties even after compression moulding or thermoforming. Alveolen NSA is the first shock-absorbing foam produced by Sekisui Alveo that is horizontally foamed, physically cross-linked, and produced in rolls. The roll format saves up to 20% processing waste compared to bun foams.
Technical benefits and customer support
Alveolen NSA has been comprehensively tested at Sekisui Alveo's Application Service Laboratory (ASL) in Switzerland. Tests show that the technical performance of the material is at least as good as that of comparable conventional foams across the entire range of parameters. Products with components made from Alveolen NSA retain their shape over their entire service life. Alveolen NSA demonstrates its sustainability through high toughness and long-term elasticity.
The ASL is a technical competence centre that offers customers a range of specialised services such as co-engineering, application-specific product development, support with processing techniques, prototyping, application-related testing, and transfer of processing know-how. This is one of many reasons why Sekisui Alveo is recognised as the preferred supplier of foam solutions for various industries.