Abstract: An expanded cushioning material for packing or packaging is in the form of a filled cylinder. The cylinder is formed from a spiral of an essentially flexible, extended sheet material. The flexible material, in its unexpanded form, has a plurality of spaced parallel rows of individual slits extending transversely from one end of the sheet material to the opposing end of the sheet material. Each of the rows have interval spaces between consecutive slits. The slits in each row are positioned adjacent the interval space between consecutive slits in the adjacent parallel row of slits. The sheet is expanded by extending the sheet in the direction normal to the parallel to the rows of slits to form an array of openings, generally similar in shape and size. The cells include inclined land areas and legs. The land areas of adjacent spiral layers are nested and interlocked and fill the interior of the cylinder.