Investigating Automotive Polyurethane Foam Hardness Testing Methodologies

This investigation seeks to evaluate two hardness testing methods and identify, in a statistical manner, the hardness testing methodology that is superior both technically and economically. Given the various number of automotive hardness testing methods in use globally, there exists a question as to which method is best. To address this, controlled chemical changes that affect the hardness of a number of polyurethane foam (PUF) samples were made. Each PUF sample had its hardness measured using two different hardness testing methodologies. An analysis is illustrated that quantifies the technical and economic merits of each hardness test. Using statistical methods, the relationships that exist between the hardness testing methodologies are illustrated. We also show a hardness testing method that is superior either technically and/or economically.