The protection that doctors need – with the comfort that patients want
Engineered using a two-step manufacturing process, POREX open-cell foam technology is developed using proprietary blends of raw materials through a clean polyurethane foaming process without the use of catalysts. By leveraging different formulations of materials, Porex can offer wide-ranging densities, porosities, and levels of softness to meet specific project requirements. Order our sample kit to explore what’s possible across our broad line of foam solutions – from Supersoft foam for wearables to Slow Recovery Foam for cranial and body protectors.
Our design engineers will work with you to select and design the foam that meets your needs.
Key benefits
- Durable and robust patient protection
- Can help redistribute pressure at critical pressure points, avoiding nerve damage, pressure ulcers & other positioning injuries
- Broad range of thicknesses including both standard and custom offerings
- Antimicrobial option available for all foam types
- Superior patient comfort
- Most grades are latex-free
- Wide range of surface and softness grades (cell count from 100 to 240)
- Highly efficient at wicking away moisture to keep patient cool and comfortable
- Excellent grip
- Broad range of tensile and tear strength
- Conformable to easily fit many body types and parts
Product characteristics
To find the foam that best fits your needs, see what level of protection, comfort and grip are provided by each foam. If you’d like to see more information about an individual foam, simply click on the name of the foam to be taken to its page. If you’d like to touch and feel our foam options, please request our Patient Positioning & Surgical Support Foam Sample kit containing five foam samples.
Medisponge® Supersoft® 65P-Ag Antimicrobial | HSS-X7® (Standard or Bio-based) | Nolatex® | Supersoft® HL | Supersoft® Smooth | TerraFoam® (Standard or Bio-based) | Nolaphil® | Slow Recovery Foam EP | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Protection | Excellent | Excellent | Excellent | Good | Excellent | Excellent | Excellent | Excellent |
Comfort | Excellent | Good | Good | Excellent | Excellent | Acceptable | Acceptable | Acceptable |
Grip | Acceptable | Good | Acceptable | Excellent | Good | Excellent | Good | Excellent |
Applications
Check out the list of patient positioning applications below to see which foams are best suited for each type. The applications are listed from firm at the top to soft at the bottom. If you’d like to see more information about an individual foam, simply click on the name of the foam to be taken to its page. If you’d like to touch and feel our foam options, please request our Patient Positioning & Surgical Support Foam Sample kit containing five foam samples.
Firm

Soft
Medisponge® Supersoft® 65P-Ag Antimicrobial | HSS-X7® (Standard or Bio-based) | Nolatex® | Supersoft® HL | Supersoft® Smooth | TerraFoam® (Standard or Bio-based) | Nolaphil® | Slow Recovery Foam EP | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Cranial & spinal protectors | ![]() | |||||||
Hip, body & extremity protectors | ![]() | |||||||
Posterior cushions | ![]() | ![]() | ||||||
Wheelchair seating | ![]() | |||||||
Splint padding | ![]() | ![]() | ![]() | ![]() | ![]() | |||
Patient handling | ![]() | ![]() | ||||||
Surgery securement | ![]() | ![]() | ||||||
Head & body positioners | ![]() | ![]() | ![]() | |||||
Face masks & straps | ![]() | ![]() | ||||||
Wearable reinforcement panels & inserts | ![]() |
Technical Specifications
Explore the technical specifications of each type of foam to better understand their differences. Typical values are shown below; however, normal production ranges are used per customer specifications. If you’d like to see more information about an individual foam, simply click on the name of the foam to be taken to its page. If you’d like to touch and feel our foam options, please request our Patient Positioning & Surgical Support Foam Sample kit containing five foam samples.
Medisponge® Supersoft® 65PAg Antimicrobial | HSS-X7® (Standard or Bio-based) | Nolatex® | Supersoft® HL | Supersoft® Smooth | TerraFoam® (Standard or Bio-based) | Nolaphil® | Slow Recovery Foam EP | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Thickness | 2.5mm + 0.50mm 0.098 + 0.020”), 4.5mm + 0.50mm (0.177 + 0.020”) | 2.0 – 50.5mm (0.079 – 2”) | 2.0 – 25.4 mm (0.079 – 1”) | 2.0 – 39.4mm (0.079 – 1.55”) | 2.0 – 33.0mm (0.079 – 1.30”) | 2.0 – 30.5mm (0.079 – 1.2”) | 3.5 mm (0.138”) | 2.0 – 31.8mm (0.079 – 1.25”) |
Density (kg/m³) | 110 | 80 – 94 | 83.3 | 110.4 | 96.1 | 104.1 | 85.2 | 122 – 134 |
Tensile Strength (kPa) | 160 | 160 – 225 | 298.3 | 166 | 122.6 | 193 – 207 | 275 | 405 – 428 |
Tear Strength (N/m) | 300 | 527 – 569 | 551.6 | 413 | 467 | 460 – 603 | 510 | 1277 – 1357 |
Elongation at Break (%) | 200 | 335 – 370 | 175 | 260 | 256 | 230 – 280 | 170 | 270 – 285 |
Cell Count (pores/in) | 170 | 162 – 180 | 135 | 200 | 150 | 215 – 239 | 130 | 120 – 125 |