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Polyurethane foam is the premier material used in automotive seating. One of the primary reasons for its preeminent position is the ability of the foam to maintain its comfort performance during the life of the vehicle. The persistent properties of polyurethane foam are related to its ability to recover its performance after a short period of rest. In this paper, a specific methodology for quantifying the property response of polyurethane foam is presented with data for two different foam chemistries. The conditions for the test procedures are selected based on the simulated road conditions that can be expected during a three-hour drive. Creep phenomena are measured to determine the extent and nature of property changes.

A performance map for polyurethane energy managing foam is presented as a heuristic tool in the selection of appropriate formulation and density. Dynamic data was mapped to material characterization data. Material characterization was accomplished by quasi-static compression testing ASTM D-1621. The D-1621 data was correlated with 24.1 km/hr (15 mph) head impact data and 8.05 km/hr (5 mph) bumper impact data. For example, Head Injury Criterion (HIC) values were correlated with D-1621 compressive strengths which were mapped to polyurethane formulations and densities. The performance map can save time and money by identifying appropriate formulation and density.