RUBIFLEX® Gradient Hardness™

RUBIFLEX® Gradient Hardness™ Polyurethane System can provide seat foam with very good initial softness and high support from firmer lower layers for long-term comfort. Poured in a single shot, the RUBIFLEX® Gradient Hardness™ Polyurethane System uses the same types of tools, molds, and processes as conventional seating foam to deliver a softer top and firmer bottom in a single molded pad.

Chemical Family: Polyurethanes (PU)

Features: Excellent Cushioning Properties, Soft

Brochure
  • TypeDocument Name
View All Documents

Enhanced TDS

Identification & Functionality

Blend
No
Chemical Family
Polyurethanes (PU)
Composite Core
Polyurethane Foam
Function
Core Material
Single Ingredient
Yes

Features & Benefits

Ready-to-Use Product Features
Excellent Cushioning Properties,
Soft
Key Features
  • Single-shot manufacturing capability
  • Soft cushioning top
  • Firm bottom layer for overall support
  • Tunable gradient effect enables lower layer to be up to 175% firmer than surface
  • Fully formulated system
  • Standardised manufacturing processes
  • Dynamic Advanced Comfort (AC)
Typical Benefits
  • Can provide drivers and passengers with a plush, comfortable ride, and very good initial showroom feel
  • Firmness of bottom layers can provide very good overall support, maintaining H-Point
  • Better pressure distribution and rolling stability
  • Cost savings for automotive manufacturers by reducing steps, time, and labor associated with other manufacturing methods of layered foam
  • Minimized craftsmanship issues of separately molded foam layers

Applications & Uses

Product End Uses
Foams,
Seats
Markets
Automotive & Transportation
Applications
Automotive & Transportation — Automotive
Seating
Typical Application

RUBIFLEX® Gradient Hardness™ polyurethane system is used in foam seat cushions, typically for densities at or above 65kg/m³.

MARKET LEADING TECHNOLOGY

RUBIFLEX® Gradient Hardness™ polyurethane system - TYPICAL APPLICATION - 3

Conventional seating foam technology is achieved by pouring one polyurethane system targeting a single overall hardness felt at top and bottom of the pad. The result is a seat that trends toward softer with less support, or firmer with less luxurious top-feel.

RUBIFLEX® Gradient Hardness™ polyurethane system - TYPICAL APPLICATION - 2

Some premium seat manufacturing uses two pieces of foam or a ‘topper’ with pad adhered together. The bottom piece of foam is firm while the top piece of foam is soft. The result is added steps and cost in the manufacturing process.

RUBIFLEX® Gradient Hardness™ polyurethane system - TYPICAL APPLICATION - 1

This next generation seating foam technology by Huntsman is completed in one pour, with one formulation. Huntsman’s RUBIFLEX® Gradient Hardness™ polyurethane system can provide optimal comfort for the driver and minimal steps in the manufacturing line, thus saving automakers time and money to deliver a level of comfort previously only experienced with premium seats.

Properties

Typical System Properties

Range of Gradient Hardness™ Capability demonstrated by core CFDs with 5mm of skin removed per ISO 3386-1 40%.

Index Top CFD (kPa)

Bottom CFD (kPa)
70 2.72 5.59
75 3.44 7.36
80 4.52 8.39
85 5.72 10.14
100 8.13 14.35
105 8.56 16.22

CFD = Compression Force Deflection.

Packaging & Availability

Regional Availability
  • Global

Other

Mechanical Properties
ValueUnitsTest Method / Conditions
Compression Set3.44-7.35 %%ISO 33861 0.4, Force Deflection
Physical Properties
ValueUnitsTest Method / Conditions
Density62.0-74.0 kg/m³kg/m³ASTM D3574