Sofas with polyurethane foam filling: description, advantages and disadvantages

Advantages of PPU:

• High-quality, dense polyurethane foam serves faithfully for more than 15 years.
• Products made from it have the highest level of hygiene: they do not retain moisture, dry quickly and do not rot; are not a breeding ground for pathogenic bacteria and mold fungi; do not accumulate dust and dust mites. There are practically no insects in them.
• The material does not cause allergic reactions even in the most sensitive people and infants. Does not emit toxic substances when heated and exposed to ultraviolet radiation. It is completely safe for the health of people and pets.
• Quickly returns to its original shape even after extreme compression. Does not deform over time.
• The polyurethane foam surface easily adapts to the contours of the body, perfectly relieving muscle tension and stress from the spine and joints. This sofa provides complete rest and a comfortable night's sleep, no worse than on specialized orthopedic mattresses.
• Thanks to the porous structure, the entire internal contents of the sofa cushions are perfectly ventilated. Air and moisture do not stagnate, which increases the service life of the products.
• It serves as an excellent insulator, so a PPU mattress is always warm and cozy.

Classification and types of polyurethane foam

Polyurethane foam varies in types and grades, price and quality. Depending on the source raw material and purpose, according to its characteristics, polyurethane foam is divided into several groups:

• Hard is used in the construction industry for sound insulation and insulation.
• Elastic is used for the manufacture of filters, gaskets, sponges and children's toys.
• Foaming agent is included in the composition of adhesives and polyurethane foam, which is used to fill voids.
• Sofas are filled with polyurethane foam in two ways: block and cast.
• Block filler looks like a block, which is cut into layers of certain sizes in production. The filler consists of several glued layers of different densities. The soft layer is on the top of the block, the hard layer is on the bottom. Crumbs from waste filler are used to fill the soft elements of some models.
• Cast filler is formed by pouring a liquid hot mass into prepared molds of certain sizes. The heated liquid takes on the required volume and size under pressure. With this method, there is virtually no production waste, and the material ensures particularly soft and smooth shapes. Due to the nature of the technology, this type is more expensive.

The softness and comfort of the seat is provided by thin polyurethane foam sheets covering the blocks. They are used before upholstering furniture. For sofa cushions, padding polyester and similar soft fillings are used. Recently, synthetic down and latex have been used.

Which sofa is better - spring or polyurethane foam?

Previously, only springs were used, but over time they were replaced by other types of materials. You can only understand which type is better by comparison: seek advice from the manufacturer, read the information on the website.

Buyers are sometimes confused as to which is better, a spring or polyurethane foam, and cannot make a choice.

Different models can be attractive in their own way. Let’s figure out which filling for a sofa is better and more reliable than polyurethane foam or a high-quality spring block.

PPU is the same foam rubber, used almost everywhere, in particular, as a filler for furniture.

Characteristics

Each of the two materials has its own characteristics:

It is widely used as a filler due to its compactness; this property gives softness and elasticity to the product.
You can purchase a design with any type of spring: snake, bonell or independent spring system.

Advantages and disadvantages

Let's look at the strengths and weaknesses of each packing option:

The main quality is that dust does not accumulate in it, it is completely hypoallergenic. This ability is important for those who are prone to allergies.

For a person with back problems, polyurethane foam may be too hard and uncomfortable.

Characteristics of polyurethane foam

Sofas with this “filling” are distinguished by the absence of wire blocks. The internal space is occupied by polyurethane foam. The material is a type of foam rubber. In addition, in the production of some types of filler, special equipment is used, thanks to which contour cutting occurs. This fact ensures the aesthetic appeal of the sofa.

Convenience

A comfortable sofa is a priority for most people. For a comfortable rest, it is necessary that a dent does not form under the person, otherwise the time of relaxation will turn into a search for a comfortable position. The body load should be distributed evenly across the mattress.

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Worth knowing! Inexpensive models use Chinese filler, the service life of which is much shorter than its European counterparts.

In mid- and high-class sofas, manufacturers use polyurethane foam produced using special technology. Therefore, it has a number of advantages, for example, elasticity, long service life, the ability to restore its original shape, etc.

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Quality

Sofas with PU foam filling are not inferior to, and often superior to, models with spring blocks. This is felt in quality, convenience and performance. The furniture set with polyurethane foam is suitable for use in any room.

Durability

Sofas with such filling are practical, comfortable and have a long service life. In addition, dust and other small debris do not accumulate in the material, it allows air to pass freely and is completely safe for health.

A sofa with polyurethane foam is inexpensive due to its fairly simple production technology. The price of such furniture is much less than a furniture set with spring filling. The cost starts from 10,000 rubles.

Harm to health

But, despite the positive properties, this material can still cause harm to health.

We recommend: How to choose the right orthopedic pillow for healthy sleep?

The thing is that the main feature of polyurethane foam, which makes it attractive to consumers, is its main drawback. This material is quite soft. And the fact that it takes the form of a human body does not benefit us at all. This softness leads people to sleep in positions that feel more comfortable to them. However, such poses are unnatural. Because of them, spinal deformation occurs.

Such mattresses are especially dangerous for children. Their posture has not yet been formed. The spine needs support. To do this, the child must sleep on a firm mattress. Natural materials are especially popular - for example, coconut fiber.

There are other disadvantages of polyurethane foam.

• Due to exposure to direct sunlight, it is destroyed.
• It does not tolerate prolonged contact with liquids.
• According to some experts, under the influence of temperature it releases harmful substances.

Miss Clean magazine points out that although the latter argument has not been officially confirmed, many people, having tried mattresses made from artificial materials, do note that gradually they are increasingly experiencing headaches, nausea and drowsiness. Even if you are not worried about possible consequences for the spine, pay attention to these symptoms.

The best springless synthetic fillers

Furniture polyurethane foam - an affordable and convenient material for frameless furniture

• Synthetic down. The spiral-shaped fiber, made of silicone, restores its previous shape after compression in a matter of minutes. It has such properties as good quality and reliability. It is mainly used for stuffing furniture pillows, as a filler for backrests and armrests.

Polyurethane foam or spring block? Which sofa filling is “best”?

Upholstered furniture based on an independent spring block Quite
a lot of time has passed since spring blocks were replaced by materials that are used as filler for upholstered furniture - latex, holofiber, polyurethane foam, padding polyester. But what is better - a spring block or polyurethane foam?

Filling the accordion sofa on a metal frame

Comfort This property is important for any furniture, no matter what function it performs. It is important when you lie down that pits do not appear, then there is definitely no time for rest, but instead of a restful sleep you will look for a comfortable position. The load must be distributed equally over the entire base. What can you say about PPU? It holds its shape well, has excellent elasticity, and adapts to the contour of the human body. Withstands a lot of weight and instantly takes on its original appearance. If the material is of sufficient quality, it will serve for a long time. Spring blocks There are dependent and independent. In the first version, the springs are intertwined and have long gone out of use. It is simply unbearable to lie on such a foundation; if you press on one spring, it will pull all the others. The second option allows you to have a great rest; in such blocks, each individual spring is packed in a bag, the load in this case is distributed evenly. Solidity. Undoubtedly, polyurethane foam is a durable material. It does not accumulate dust, has excellent breathability, and is harmless. Furniture with such filling will last for many years if used for its intended purpose. But if you often jump on such a sofa, which children especially love to do, then it will quickly lose its elasticity.

The same applies to spring blocks; not all can withstand such loads, especially the inexpensive option. Economy class furniture will creak and springs will come out through the upholstery. In high-quality sofas, a sufficient number of intermediate layers are placed between the spring block and the upholstery material, so the springs always remain in place. Price: Furniture with spring blocks is more expensive than with polyurethane foam. But it all depends on the quality of the material. Therefore, think carefully before you buy a cheaper sofa, otherwise the joy of the purchase will turn into big problems. Be sure to ask the seller what kind of filler is inside and what quality it is. After all, it depends on how long the furniture can serve you, whether it will be comfortable, comfortable to sit on or sleep on, so that the original appearance remains the same for as long as possible.

No one will answer the question “What is better?” Each filler has advantages and disadvantages. It's up to you to decide what you prefer.

Video: Mattresses made of polyurethane foam, foam mattresses, types of polyurethane foam

What is polyurethane foam in a sofa?

Let's figure out what PU foam filler is in a sofa. This is a synthetic material that has a porous structure and consists of individual cells filled with air masses.

Furniture manufacturers often use polyurethane foam (PUF) as filling.

Important! The material is very practical: light, airy, characterized by excellent thermal insulation.

In fact, this is the same foam rubber used in many household products, but more advanced. It is used as padding for upholstered furniture due to its density, elasticity and softness. It is produced in 2 stages: first soft filler (small blocks), then polyurethane foam (slabs).