Anti-vibration foams for home appliances
PU and PE foams are widely used in washing machines, air conditioners and refrigerators for vibration damping, noise reduction and sealing. Choosing the right foam type, density and adhesive backing makes products run more quietly, improves perceived quality and reduces complaints about rattling noises.
Noise and vibration are among the first criteria consumers judge when buying home appliances. Small, low-cost foam parts play a major role in this experience.
Sources of vibration and noise in home appliances
Air conditioner and refrigerator compressors, high-speed motors and washing drums, and outdoor unit fans are all sources of vibration. Vibration transmitted through the frame and housing creates structure-borne noise, while gaps between housing panels cause rattling. Foam absorbs vibration energy, isolates metal parts and seals gaps.
Comparing PU foam and PE foam
| Property | PU foam | PE foam |
|---|---|---|
| Cell structure | Open or semi-closed cell | Closed cell |
| Vibration absorption | Excellent | Moderate |
| Sound absorption | Good | Limited |
| Water resistance | Moderate | Excellent |
| Resilience | High | Moderate |
| Cost | Higher | Low |
Typical applications
- Washing machines: sound-absorbing PU foam panels on the housing, anti-vibration pads between the drum and frame.
- Air conditioners: PE foam insulation on copper pipes to prevent condensation, sponge rubber pads under the compressor.
- Refrigerators: foam gaskets to seal gaps, noise-reducing foam in the compressor compartment.
- Vacuum cleaners, fans: PU foam to reduce air noise at the exhaust.
Microcellular PU foam for long-term compression
For locations under continuous compression for many years, microcellular PU foam with a density of 240–400 kg/m³ has very low compression set, maintaining stable resilience and minimizing foam collapse over time.
Fabrication to drawing
Foam parts are usually laminated with single-sided tape and then die-cut to shape, supplied in sheets or rolls so workers can peel and apply them quickly. Choose an acrylic or rubber adhesive suited to the surface, whether ABS, PP or powder-coated steel.
Export appliances often must meet UL 94 flammability requirements for parts inside the enclosure. In that case, choose foam rated HF-1 or V-0 and request the accompanying certification documents to avoid having to change materials once the product is already in the certification stage.
AMS supplies PU foam, PE foam and sponge rubber, along with adhesive lamination and die-cutting to drawing for home appliance manufacturers. Contact AMS Vietnam for advice and a sample quote.
