Melamine Foam
Melamine Foam is an open-cell melamine-formaldehyde thermoset foam of very low density, valued for sound absorption, inherent flame retardance and thermal insulation (thermal conductivity 0.035 W/m·K).
Reference datasheet — Melamine Foam is not in the instant-quote catalog. Upload your part and an engineer will quote it in this grade or suggest the closest stocked equivalent.
Melamine Foam grades and fills
Melamine Foam is supplied in 5 conditions, soft to hard.
Compare all 5 grades and fillsHide
| Grade · open for datasheet | Best for | Yield MPa | Tensile MPa | Elong. % | Hardness |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Graphite-enhanced grade | Choose for the most demanding transport fire tests and slightly lower conductivity, where dark colour is acceptable. | 0.01 | 0.12 | 15 | |
Solution heat treated (unstable) | Use where the foam surface stays visible (studio panels, ceiling baffles) and grey is unacceptable. | 0.01 | 0.12 | 15 | |
Hydrophobic-treated grade | Silicone/fluoro-impregnated version for HVAC ducts and outdoor enclosures where condensation or splash water is present. | 0.01 | 0.12 | 14 | |
Cleaning-sponge (ultra-fine cell) grade | Fine-cell, slightly denser foam whose hard resin struts act as a micro-abrasive for water-only cleaning. | 0.01 | 0.15 | 12 | |
Compressed / densified melamine foam | Heat-compressed block for firestop gaskets, high-temperature seals and thin high-strength insulation layers. | 0.04 | 0.4 | 10 |
Supply forms, finishes and certifications
Ways Melamine Foam is supplied — form, process route, surface or paperwork — without a datasheet of their own. The property values above apply.
| Option | What it is | Type |
|---|---|---|
TG | Thermoformable / higher-density grade | Coating |
UL | Ultra-light grade | Certification |
STDDefault | Standard acoustic grade | Standard supply |
What is Melamine Foam?
Melamine Foam is an open-cell melamine-formaldehyde thermoset foam of very low density, valued for sound absorption, inherent flame retardance and thermal insulation (thermal conductivity 0.035 W/m·K). It is supplied as bun stock and die-cut or contour-cut sheet for acoustic panels, transport NVH treatment and abrasive cleaning sponges, with standard, UL-rated, thermoformable, hydrophobic and coloured conditions on file. Limits are mechanical: 0.12 MPa tensile strength, 15% elongation and a friable surface that sheds dust, so it carries no structural load. Service temperature reaches 180 °C; for load-bearing cores use a rigid PMI or PVC foam. Melamine Foam has a tensile strength of 0.12 MPa (0.0174 ksi), weaker than 99% of polymer grades. Elongation at break is 15% and the elastic modulus is 4×10⁻⁴ GPa (5.8×10⁻⁵ Msi).
What is Melamine Foam used for?
- Acoustic absorption panels
- Fire-retardant insulation
- Transportation NVH treatment
- Abrasive cleaning sponges
Advantages
- Easy to machine — 85/100, better than 88% of polymer grades
- High service temperature — 180°C (356 °F), better than 85% of polymer grades
Limitations
- Low stiffness — 4×10⁻⁴ GPa (5.8×10⁻⁵ Msi), worse than 99% of polymer grades
- Poor heat conductor — 0.04 W/m·K (0.0202 BTU/hr·ft·°F), worse than 93% of polymer grades
- Degrades in UV without stabilisers — 25/100, worse than 76% of polymer grades
Melamine Foam properties
Typical room-temperature values; bars are the position among polymer grades.
Mechanical6
Melamine Foam has a tensile strength of 0.12 MPa (0.0174 ksi), weaker than 99% of polymer grades. Elongation at break is 15% and the elastic modulus is 4×10⁻⁴ GPa (5.8×10⁻⁵ Msi).
Thermal7
Melamine Foam is rated for continuous service to 180°C (356 °F). It conducts heat at 0.04 W/m·K (0.0202 BTU/hr·ft·°F), worse than 93% of polymer grades.
Electrical2
Chemical & Environmental2
UV resistance is poor.
Sustainability3
Producing a kilogram of Melamine Foam takes about 100 MJ of energy and emits 5 kg of CO₂ — less than 61% of polymer grades. Typical recycled content is 0%.
Manufacturability2
Melamine Foam's machinability is excellent (85/100, better than 88% of polymer grades); formability fair (35/100).
Values are nominal handbook figures for design screening. Certified mill or lot data ships with every FabDigit order on request.
Strength versus weight in the polymer family
Yield strength against density for every polymer grade FabDigit runs. Melamine Foam is highlighted; hover a dot for its name, or open the interactive family chart.
Working with Melamine Foam
Is Melamine Foam easy to machine?
Cut with band knife, oscillating blade, die or waterjet; hot-wire does not work (thermoset) and routing generates friable dust — use extraction.
Can Melamine Foam be welded?
Not weldable; assemble with spray contact adhesive, hot-melt web or mechanical clips/facings.
Can Melamine Foam be formed, bent or molded?
Sheets are die-cut or CNC contour-cut from bun stock; only the thermoformable grades can be steam/heat compression-moulded into 3-D shapes.
Melamine Foam chemical composition (wt %)
Limits by weight percent from the governing specification, written the way the spec states them — a single maximum for impurities, a range for alloying elements, and the base element as balance. Nominal is the typical mid-range value.
| Element | Spec limit (wt %) | Nominal |
|---|---|---|
| emulsifier / sulfonate surfactantresidual foaming aid | 0.5 – 2.5 | 1.5 |
| blowing agent residue (C5 hydrocarbon)largely driven off after curing | 0 – 0.5 | 0.2 |
| graphiteonly in graphite-enhanced (G+) variant | 0 – 3 | 0 |
| melamine-formaldehyde resin (crosslinkedmelamine:formaldehyde molar ratio typically 1:3, fully cured thermoset | ≥ 96 (balance) |
What surface finishes work on Melamine Foam?
Usually left raw or laminated with glass tissue, aluminium foil, PU film or acoustic fabric; heavy paint/coating closes the cells and destroys sound absorption.
How much does Melamine Foam cost?
Melamine Foam is a high-cost polymer ($$$$), pricier than about 78% of the materials FabDigit quotes. Part price depends far more on geometry, tolerance and quantity than on the raw stock — upload a CAD file for a live quote.
Melamine Foam — frequently asked
What is Melamine Foam used for?
Melamine Foam is typically used for acoustic absorption panels, fire-retardant insulation, transportation NVH treatment and abrasive cleaning sponges. In short: inherently flame-retardant acoustic foam; 180 °C open-cell foam; non-structural, friable surface.
What is the tensile strength of Melamine Foam?
Melamine Foam has a typical tensile strength of 0.12 MPa (0.0174 ksi) — weaker than 99% of polymer grades. Strength varies by condition: see the 5 listed tempers.
Is Melamine Foam easy to machine?
Yes — machinability is rated excellent (85/100, better than 88% of polymer grades). Cut with band knife, oscillating blade, die or waterjet; hot-wire does not work (thermoset) and routing generates friable dust — use extraction.
Can Melamine Foam be welded?
Not weldable; assemble with spray contact adhesive, hot-melt web or mechanical clips/facings.
What surface finishes work on Melamine Foam?
Usually left raw or laminated with glass tissue, aluminium foil, PU film or acoustic fabric; heavy paint/coating closes the cells and destroys sound absorption.
Can Melamine Foam be formed, bent or molded?
Sheets are die-cut or CNC contour-cut from bun stock; only the thermoformable grades can be steam/heat compression-moulded into 3-D shapes.
What is the maximum service temperature of Melamine Foam?
Melamine Foam is rated for continuous use to about 180°C (356 °F), and briefly to 250°C. Strength falls off well before that limit — check the elevated-temperature data for load-bearing parts.
How much does Melamine Foam cost?
Melamine Foam is a high-cost polymer ($$$$), pricier than about 78% of the materials FabDigit quotes. Part price depends far more on geometry, tolerance and quantity than on the raw stock — upload a CAD file for a live quote.
Sources
- Basotect melamine resin foam product brochure and grade data (G, G+, W, TG, UL, UF) — BASF (2022)
- UL 94 Tests for Flammability of Plastic Materials (HF-1 horizontal foam test) — UL Solutions (2020)
- DIN 4102-1 / EN 13501-1 building material fire classification — DIN / CEN (2019)
- EN ISO 1798 / ISO 3386 flexible cellular polymeric materials — tensile and compression stress-strain — ISO (2018)
- Cellular Solids: Structure and Properties (open-cell foam mechanics) — Cambridge University Press (1997)
Property data is compiled from published supplier and standards handbooks and normalised for comparison; hardness values on non-Brinell scales are converted approximately for charting only. Manufacturability limits are FabDigit quote-engine defaults and may be relaxed by engineering review. Nothing on this page is a certification — request mill certs, CoC or material test reports with your order.