I'm looking for a sturdy open cell foam that resists compression/bending but isn't rigid; and can handle the laundry. A one-inch thick sheet should be too stiff to bend with one hand. It's for a protective mitt for self-destructive psychiatric patients.
There are plenty of sturdy polyethylene foams out there, but they are generally CLOSED CELL. Is that a problem? In the laundry, they would have less tendency to absorb water and would dry faster.