open cell foam

noun

variants or open-cell foam

plural open cell foams or open-cell foams

: a spongy foam (see foam entry 1 sense 1c) resulting from the introduction of gas bubbles during manufacturing in which the air bubbles are connected to surrounding air bubbles

Closed cell foams form separate air pockets surrounded by a more solid material, while in open cell foams, the pockets interconnect.

—Sura Jeselsohn

Open-cell foam is the term used for foam made with bubbles that rupture during manufacture.

—Lindsey Vickers

Open cell foam insulation has tiny air bubbles that are open to air and moisture.

—Mike McClintock

Open cell foams: ceramic, metal, or polymer, have been used in a wide range of industrial areas since they typically possess high specific surface area, high porosity, and efficient thermal insulation.

—Zhengwei Nie et al.

Word History

First Known Use

1956, in the meaning defined above