Cushioning Performance of a Novel Polyurethane Foam Material Applied in Fragile Packaging

Abstract

For fragile products, packaging requires cushioning protection to prevent irreversible damage from accidental falls, transportation impacts, and other causes. The new polyurethane foam (PUF) material demonstrates superior cushioning and vibration isolation performance in practical applications, effectively minimizing damage from vibrations. Drop and vibration experiments were conducted on packages comprising novel PUF, expandable polyethylene, ethylene–vinyl acetate copolymer foam, and bracelets. Results verify that the new PUF material outperforms in cushioning and vibration isolation, as observed from the acceleration response. Furthermore, a random vibration analysis of a packaging unit involving different thicknesses of PUF materials and bracelets reveals the enhanced vibration isolation effect within a specific thickness range. The vibration results of the bracelet’s outer packaging align closely with finite element simulation results, validating the effectiveness of designing and optimizing the outer packaging. Through finite element simulation, deeper understanding and prediction of the bracelet’s vibration response under various conditions is achieved, facilitating optimized packaging design for better protection and vibration damping.