Overview
E-A-R Specialty Composites manufactures and markets proprietary elastomers for noise and vibration control, shock protection and ergonomics. They maintain headquarters and a production facility in Indianapolis and a plant in Newark Del., near Philadelphia.

CONFOR® Foam
Our CONFOR® foams offer a unique combination of seemingly conflicting properties that are ideal for comfort management and protective padding applications. These urethane foams soften and conform when exposed to warmth, giving gentle, virtually pressure-free support. When the foams take a direct blow, however, their high energy-absorption characteristics enable them to absorb up to 97 percent of an impact. While they are slow to recover after deflection, they effectively resist compression set. Because the open-celled foams are breathable, non-irritating in dermal contact, and help dissipate moisture and perspiration away from the body, they are ideal for medical and body contact cushioning applications.

New Report Praises CONFOR Foam from Aearo E-A-R Specialty Composites
The link below is to a report that concludes that CONFOR Foam outperformed other types of seat cushion in regard to long-term comfort.  Unfortunately, the report must be purchased for $20.  However, you can see the results on the summary page.

The text below is copied from the web site in the link below.

Introduction: Glider flights may require the pilot to sit for many hours in a cramped cockpit that allows little movement. Experiments were undertaken to evaluate the performance of different seat cushions in a glider simulator. Methods: Subjects were male glider pilots with a maximum height of 1.85 m (6.07 ft) who participated in simulated glider flights lasting 1.5 h. A pressure-mapping device was used to determine cushion performance. By analyzing 15 subjects we calculated the pressure threshold for comfort, above which fidgeting provided objective evidence of discomfort. To determine cushion performance relative to that threshold, 20 other pilots then sat on 5 different viscoelastic foam cushions in the simulator. Results: The time-averaged peak pressure below which no discomfort-induced fidgeting occurred was 8.8 kPa (1.28 psi). The highest peak pressure at which discomfort could be relieved by fidgeting was 11.0 kPa (1.6 psi). Of the five cushions tested, pressure remained below the discomfort threshold for almost all subjects for only one type of cushion. Discussion: The best-performing cushion had a layered structure made up of approximately 25 mm of Confor C47 (green) foam with an overlay of approximately 13 mm of Confor C45 (blue foam). The other types of energy-absorbing cushions tested, either with or without a softer top layer, are unlikely to provide comfortable seating solutions for most pilots. We conclude that satisfactory cushions are available for this application and that they can be objectively evaluated using this technique.

The recommended combination of foam layers is available here: CONFOR-Foam-Grn-Blue-1p5x16x18

Full Report : http://www.ingentaconnect.com/content/asma/asem/2009/00000080/00000006/art00011

Note from Paul Remde: Personally I find the green C45 foam much to hard to use in most Northern parts of the world such as here in Minnesota - except on the hottest summer days.  However, it works great in warm/hot climates.

Great For Use In Gliders
CONFOR foam seat cushions are the best product available for use in gliders.  They offer 2 advantages over other seat cushion materials.

• Safety
  Because of their shock-absorption properties, CONFOR foams are being employed in general aviation passenger seats as a way to meet new crash-load standards. The foams dissipate impact energy, instead of hitting bottom and returning the energy to the impacting body.  The extremely high energy-absorption characteristics of CONFOR foam help protect your back from bumps and hard landings.  Studies have shown that it dramatically reduces the likelihood of back injury - if used in adequate thicknesses.
• Comfort
  Because they self-adjust and provide balanced, even support, CONFOR foams do not contribute to the fatigue and discomfort associated with traditional high-resilience seating foams in long-term seating applications, such as for military (and sailplane) pilots, wheelchair patients and mass transit passengers. CONFOR foam softens and conforms to the curves of your body as it is warmed by your body to that is offers support over a larger surface area than most other products - for hours of pressure-free support.  This enables enhanced comfort on long glider flights.

Links
CONFOR Foam Specifications
CONFOR Foam Materials Summary Sheet
CONFOR Foam Data Sheet #2
CONFOR Foam Brochure

Firmness Options
CONFOR Foam is available in several firmness options.  The softer versions are more comfortable, but they will "bottom-out" (compress to a point where they offer no padding) more quickly than the more firm versions.  Below is a summary of the available firmness options.

• Yellow, CF-40, Soft and extremely comfortable, but bottoms out easily.  Often used on top of layers of Blue and Pink to give extreme comfort.
• Pink, CF-42, Medium-soft, popular, Often used on top of a layer of Blue to give great softness and energy absorbing capability.
• Blue, CF-45, Medium-firm, Most Popular, Recommended by the manufacturer when only a single 1" layer of padding is used.  Often used below a layer of Pink to give great energy absorbing capability below the softer comfort of the Pink layer.
• Green, CF-47, Firm, Used below a layer of Blue and Pink layers when there is room for 3 layers.  This version offers the best energy absorption in warmer climates. However, it is very, very hard (stiff) at room temperature.  I mean, this stuff is really hard.  Did I mention that it is really hard...  For that reason, I recommend the blue version for most applications. 

Cold Temperature Issues
CONFOR foam gets softer as it warms to your body temperature, but it also gets harder as it gets cold.  On very cold days is may become brittle and break.  You may want to take it out of your airplane if you keep it stored in cold climates.

Gluing Tip
The CONFOR Foam can be glued together using 3M 74 FoamFast Spray Adhesive. It can be purchased at many major hardware/lumber outlets such as Lowes or Home Depot. 

Details from the 3M web site:

"For Bonding Flexible Urethane or Latex Foam Together or to Many Other Materials Like Wood, Metal, and Non-Vinyl Plastics.  It is used for bonding flexible urethane or latex foam together or to many other materials like wood, metal and plastics. THIS ADHESIVE IS NOT RECOMMENDED FOR BONDING VINYL PLASTICS. Its outstanding features include extra coverage, bonds immediately."

Ratings
Confor Foam has been tested and complies with the flammability requirements of FAR 25.853(a), Appendix F, Part I (a) (1) (ii)

How to Order
To order a product, click on the button next to the product. 
When you are ready to complete your order, click on the button. 
Click on the small images to view larger versions.

Part #	Description	Photo (Click on images below to view large versions)	Price	Lead-time
Single-Layer, Small Size
CONFOR-Foam-Yellow-1x16x18	CONFOR® Foam Seat Cushion - Yellow - 1x16x18" This seat cushion material is an investment in your comfort and safety.  It dramatically increases cockpit comfort - especially on long flights.  A fabric cover is highly recommended. Firmness: Yellow, CF-40, Soft and extremely comfortable, but bottoms out easily.  Often used on top of layers of Blue and Pink to give extreme comfort. Size: 1" x 16" x 18" (25 x 406 x 457 mm)		$25	In Stock
CONFOR-Foam-Pink-1x16x18	CONFOR® Foam Seat Cushion - Pink - 1x16x18" This seat cushion material is an investment in your comfort and safety.  It dramatically increases cockpit comfort - especially on long flights.  A fabric cover is highly recommended. Firmness: Pink, CF-42, Medium-soft, popular, Often used on top of a layer of Blue to give great softness and energy absorbing capability. Size: 1" x 16" x 18" (25 x 406 x 457 mm)		$25	In Stock
CONFOR-Foam-Blue-1x16x18	CONFOR® Foam Seat Cushion - Blue - 1x16x18" - Popular This seat cushion material is an investment in your comfort and safety.  It dramatically increases cockpit comfort - especially on long flights.  A fabric cover is highly recommended. Firmness: Blue, CF-45, Medium-firm, Most Popular, Recommended by the manufacturer when only a single layer of padding is used.  Often used below a layer of Pink to give great energy absorbing capability below the comfort of the Pink layer. Size: 1" x 16" x 18" (25 x 406 x 457 mm)		$25	In Stock
CONFOR-Foam-Green-1x16x18	CONFOR® Foam Seat Cushion - Green - 1x16x18" This seat cushion material is an investment in your comfort and safety.  It dramatically increases cockpit comfort - especially on long flights.  A fabric cover is highly recommended. Firmness: Green, CF-47, Firm, Used below a layer of Blue and Pink layers when there is room for 3 layers.  This version offers the best energy absorption in warmer climates. However, it is very, very hard (stiff) at room temperature.    I mean, this stuff is really hard.  Did I mention that it is really hard...  For that reason, I recommend the blue version for most applications.  Size: 1" x 16" x 18" (25 x 406 x 457 mm)		$25	In Stock
CONFOR-Foam-Cover-1x16x18	Fabric Cover - 1" x 16" x 18" (25 x 406 x 457 mm) This optional fabric cover offers more comfort and sweat absorption than foam alone.  The light tan color looks great in any glider cockpit and is light in color so it won't get too hot in the sun.  The simple design avoids the use of Velcro or zippers by offering a simple doubled-over fabric flap opening on the bottom.  The cover can be removed and washed at any time.  The cover also protects the foam from sunlight - to avoid degradation due to exposure.  It is very important to cover the foam.  You will get a mess of small foam crumbs in your cockpit over time if you don't cover the foam with some sort of fabric material.		$30	In Stock
Multiple-Layer, Small Size
CONFOR-Foam-Pink-Blue-1x16x18	CONFOR® Foam Seat Cushion - Pink & Blue - 1x16x18" This seat cushion material is an investment in your comfort and safety.  It dramatically increases cockpit comfort - especially on long flights.  A fabric cover is highly recommended. This is a custom made cushion with a 1/2" (12.7 mm) thick blue (medium-firm) cushion and 1/2" (12.7 mm) thin pink (medium-soft) cushion glued together for a total thickness of 1" (25.4 mm).  Size: 1" x 16" x 18" (25 x 406 x 457 mm)		$30	In Stock
CONFOR-Foam-Cover-1x16x18	Fabric Cover - 1" x 16" x 18" (25 x 406 x 457 mm) This optional fabric cover offers more comfort and sweat absorption than foam alone.  The light tan color looks great in any glider cockpit and is light in color so it won't get too hot in the sun.  The simple design avoids the use of Velcro or zippers by offering a simple doubled-over fabric flap opening on the bottom.  The cover can be removed and washed at any time.  The cover also protects the foam from sunlight - to avoid degradation due to exposure.  It is very important to cover the foam.  You will get a mess of small foam crumbs in your cockpit over time if you don't cover the foam with some sort of fabric material.		$30	In Stock
CONFOR-Foam-Grn-Blue-1p5x16x18	CONFOR® Foam Seat Cushion - Green & Blue - 1.5x16x18" - As recommended in the report This seat cushion material is an investment in your comfort and safety.  It dramatically increases cockpit comfort - especially on long flights. I don't offer a 1.5" thick fabric cover for this cushion.  However, there is a bit of extra room in the 1" thick fabric cover above (it fits somewhat loosely on the 1" thick cushion).  I have tested it and it works very nicely with this 1.5" thick cushion. This is a custom made cushion with a 1" (25.4 mm) thick green (firm) cushion and 0.5" (12.7 mm) thin blue (medium-firm) cushion glued together for a total thickness of 1.5" (38.1 mm).  This is the exact combination and thickness of cushion material recommended in the report found here.  Personally, I recommend this combination for use only in hot climates.  The green foam is (in my opinion) too hard for use in moderate or cool climates.  I recommend one of the pink and blue cushions (above and below) for use in moderate or cool climates Size: 1.5" x 16" x 18" (38 x 406 x 457 mm)	+ photo coming soon	$40	In Stock
CONFOR-Foam-Pink-Blue-2x16x18	CONFOR® Foam Seat Cushion - Pink & Blue - 2x16x18" - Popular - Fabric Covered Version is Perfect for Club Gliders This seat cushion material is an investment in your comfort and safety.  It dramatically increases cockpit comfort - especially on long flights. This is a custom made cushion with a 1" (25.4 mm) thick blue (medium-firm) cushion and 1" (25.4 mm) thin pink (medium-soft) cushion glued together for a total thickness of 2" (50.8 mm).  This provides the best comfort and energy absorption - if you have room for a 2" cushion.  A fabric cover is highly recommended. Size: 2" x 16" x 18" (51 x 406 x 457 mm)		$55	In Stock
CONFOR-Foam-Cover-2x16x18	Fabric Cover - 2" x 16" x 18" (51 x 406 x 457 mm) This optional fabric cover offers more comfort and sweat absorption than foam alone.  The light tan color looks great in any glider cockpit and is light in color so it won't get too hot in the sun.  The simple design avoids the use of Velcro or zippers by offering a simple doubled-over fabric flap opening on the bottom.  The cover can be removed and washed at any time.  The cover also protects the foam from sunlight - to avoid degradation due to exposure.  It is very important to cover the foam.  You will get a mess of small foam crumbs in your cockpit over time if you don't cover the foam with some sort of fabric material.		$30	In Stock
Single-Layer, Large Size
CONFOR-Foam-Yellow-1x18x40	CONFOR® Foam Seat Cushion - Yellow - 1x18x40" This seat cushion material is an investment in your comfort and safety.  It dramatically increases cockpit comfort - especially on long flights.  A fabric cover is highly recommended. Firmness: Yellow, CF-40, Soft and extremely comfortable, but bottoms out easily.  Often used on top of layers of Blue and Pink to give extreme comfort. Size: 1" x 18" x 40" (25 x 457 x 1016 mm)		$60	In Stock
CONFOR-Foam-Pink-1x18x40	CONFOR® Foam Seat Cushion - Pink - 1x18x40" This seat cushion material is an investment in your comfort and safety.  It dramatically increases cockpit comfort - especially on long flights.  A fabric cover is highly recommended. Firmness: Pink, CF-42, Medium-soft, popular, Often used on top of a layer of Blue to give great softness and energy absorbing capability. Size: 1" x 18" x 40" (25 x 457 x 1016 mm)		$60	In Stock
CONFOR-Foam-Blue-1x18x40	CONFOR® Foam Seat Cushion - Blue - 1x18x40" - Popular This seat cushion material is an investment in your comfort and safety.  It dramatically increases cockpit comfort - especially on long flights.  A fabric cover is highly recommended. Firmness: Blue, CF-45, Medium-firm, Most Popular, Recommended by the manufacturer when only a single layer of padding is used.  Often used below a layer of Pink to give great energy absorbing capability below the comfort of the Pink layer. Size: 1" x 18" x 40" (25 x 457 x 1016 mm)		$60	In Stock
CONFOR-Foam-Green-1x18x40	CONFOR® Foam Seat Cushion - Green - 1x18x40" This seat cushion material is an investment in your comfort and safety.  It dramatically increases cockpit comfort - especially on long flights.  A fabric cover is highly recommended. Firmness: Green, CF-47, Firm, Used below a layer of Blue and Pink layers when there is room for 3 layers.  This version offers the best energy absorption in warmer climates. However, it is very, very hard (stiff) at room temperature.    I mean, this stuff is really hard.  Did I mention that it is really hard...  For that reason, I recommend the blue version for most applications.  Size: 1" x 18" x 40" (25 x 457 x 1016 mm)		$60	In Stock
CONFOR-Foam-Cover-1x18x40	Fabric Cover - 1" x 18" x 40" (25 x 457 x 1016 mm) This optional fabric cover offers more comfort and sweat absorption than foam alone.  The light tan color looks great in any glider cockpit and is light in color so it won't get too hot in the sun.  The simple design avoids the use of Velcro or zippers by offering a simple doubled-over fabric flap opening on the bottom.  The cover can be removed and washed at any time.  The cover also protects the foam from sunlight - to avoid degradation due to exposure.  It is very important to cover the foam.  You will get a mess of small foam crumbs in your cockpit over time if you don't cover the foam with some sort of fabric material.		$40	In Stock