A new foam product made from Melamine formaldehyde aminoplastic has been introduced as an insulation material for aircraft cabins. It is an open cell foam that is very light-weight, and with foam density only at 0.06 gm/cc. Besides it also flexible compared to EPS foam. The special combination of the chemical and spatial structure of the material gives rise to a particularly attractive range of properties. Melamine foam has high sound absorption, high heat resistance, good fireproofing properties, and very good flexibility and is very easy to process. The advantages of the product emerge from the combination of these different properties .
Its three-dimensional network structure consisting of easily thermoformable filaments, makes melamine foam panels simpler to install than the glass fiber pads with which manufacturers normally insulate their aircraft. In a complex procedure, glass fibers have to be spun before they can be secured in the form of pads between the ribs of the airplane fuselage. Moreover, the vibrations that typically occur during flight cause the fibers to slip down over the course of time, which can impair the insulating effect. This special melamine foam is more flexible and softer than glass fibers - so it is simple and quick to install while being permanently secured against slippage. Not only it is very flexible but also it retains its flexibility even at lower temperatures. This certainly is an added benefit of melamine foam. This new melamine foam product is developed by BASF.
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