Insulation with polyurethane foam pros and cons: insulation of the house with polyurethane foam, video. Application of polyurethane foam spraying as a method of insulation Insulation of a PPU concrete house from the inside

In most cases, the heat-shielding properties of the walls of houses are insufficient, and to maintain the optimum temperature in the premises a separate layer of thermal insulation is required.

Good thermal insulation not only eliminates temperature fluctuations (and, accordingly, reduces heating costs), but also minimizes the formation of internal condensate, which contributes to the reproduction of mold and the destruction of materials for roofing and wall pies.

Polyurethane is polymer material used in many industries. He found his application in construction as a good wall insulation. Polyurethane expensive and difficult to install, but these shortcomings are compensated by the high reliability of the material.

Based on the high cost of the material, many choose insulation from cheaper materials, such as:

You can familiarize yourself with the most effective choice.

The heat-insulating layer can be installed both outside and on the inside of the wall. For most materials, it is preferable .

This is due to the fact that it allows you to move the dew point (the area of ​​condensation formation) outside the wall, preventing the destruction of its components. Using this method does not reduce the useful area of ​​​​the premises.

But it also has disadvantages: the appearance of the facade is changing, and installation work can only be done in dry weather.

It does not affect the appearance of the facade, and in order to be able to install it, you do not need to wait for good weather. But the shift of the dew point into the inner space of the wall and the reduction of the usable area of ​​the premises do not allow making an unambiguous choice in favor of this method.

When installing internal thermal insulation, sockets and other internal communications must be brought out without bricking them up.

The effectiveness of one method or another depends on the material chosen.. Polyurethane is laid in a relatively thick layer, and its installation on inside walls significantly reduces the amount of free space in the premises. Although the material is moisture resistant, the formation of condensate is not excluded when the dew point is displaced inside the wall.

Dew point

These factors make the preferred choice of external thermal insulation when using polyurethane.

Insulation with polyurethane from the inside is also possible, but it requires additional costs for the installation of a separate vapor barrier layer, and when planning the premises, it is necessary to take into account the reduction in their area.

Material characteristics

Polyurethane is a two-component material that formed by combining a polyol and an isocyanate.

It features high wear resistance and good insulating properties, making it widely applicable in industry.

Sealants, elastic forms (including shoe soles), implants and other products are made from it.

Polyurethane is available in both liquid and solid forms. In private construction, a liquid material is used, which is applied to the walls by spraying and immediately turns into foam due to contact with air.

The material can be sprayed not only on vertical, but also on horizontal surfaces, which will allow it to be used for insulation of ceilings, floors, basements.

NOTE!

The service life of the material declared by the manufacturers is 40-50 years.

Polyurethane in its original state is vulnerable to moisture, but the foam it forms is resistant not only to water, but also to gasoline, ethers, alcohols and most other aggressive liquids.

Polyurethane foam (PPU) is available in two main varieties: with open cells ("soft foam") and with a closed structure ("hard foam"). The material with a closed structure has better vapor barrier properties, but its price is higher than that of "soft foam".

The average coefficient of thermal conductivity of PPU is 0.025 W / (M * K).

Advantages:

• High adhesion. Polyurethane adheres well to any surface, even rough and uneven, fills all the recesses, providing complete and continuous coverage of the wall over its entire area.
• Fast application and hardening (1 hour).
• Resistant to rot and mold.
• Lightness: polyurethane does not weigh down the structure.
• Fire resistance.

Flaws:

• Relatively high price.
• Self-installation of PPU is difficult.
• Contact with fire does not ignite the material, but it begins to emit smoke containing toxic substances.
• Polyurethane degrades quickly in direct sunlight- Requires UV protection.

Comparison of thermal insulation characteristics of materials

Preparation for self-application

Polyurethane foam is considered one of the most difficult thermal insulation materials to install. It is much easier for the owner of the house to call the masters who know the installation technology and have the necessary equipment.

But self-assembly is also possible, although it requires thorough preparation.

Set for self-insulation

To insulate walls with your own hands you will need:

• 2 bottles of polyol and isocyanate.
• Spray gun.
• A compressor that generates the pressure needed to atomize the material.
• Heads (nozzles) on the gun, allowing you to adjust the volume of foam flow, its pressure.
• Personal protective equipment: respirator, gloves, suit.
• Heating unit (optional; required for operation at low temperatures);

CAREFULLY!

Working without protective equipment is strongly discouraged. Polyurethane foam loses its toxic properties only after complete solidification, until this moment, inhalation of its vapors can be harmful to health.

Calculation of the thickness of the PPU layer

Heat transfer resistance is a normalized characteristic, which is set separately for each region.

The thickness of the PPU layer must be calculated in accordance with this parameter.

The standards indicate the values ​​​​of the total heat transfer resistance related to the entire wall structure.

For this reason, the calculations take into account not only the materials of insulation, but also the parameters of the insulated structure.

Self-calculation formulas are complex and cumbersome, but there are a large number of online calculators that find the required thickness of insulation based on the data entered by the user (region, wall material, wall thickness, insulation materials and additional finishes).

The average thickness of the PPU layer is 10-30 centimeters.

pie wall

The main condition for applying polyurethane is the construction of a crate made of wood or metal profile on the surface of the wall. Insulation will be applied to the space between the batten guides. The crate not only creates "cells" for applying polyurethane foam, but also performs a leveling function.

Separate vapor and waterproofing is not needed if polyurethane foam with a closed structure is used, since its moisture-proof properties are very high. Open cell material requires the installation of a vapor barrier.

wall pie

At external insulation it is installed between the thermal insulation and the wall structure. The most popular vapor barrier material is polyethylene., which is laid with an overlap under the crate over its entire area.

Waterproofing is always mounted between the PPU layer and the outer wall finish.

Algorithm for wall insulation with polyurethane foam

Before installing the crate, the surface of the wall must be made even. The gaps are closed according to the following algorithm:

• All debris is removed from the gap.
• Pours into empty space cement mortar(if the wall is brick) plaster mixture or fiberglass mixture (if the wall is covered with plaster), putty (if the wall is covered with drywall).

The wall must be cleaned of dirt and cement influx.

The most common framing material is wood.. It should have a moisture content of no more than 11-13%, the optimal cross-section of the beam is 40-60 mm, before installation, the elements of the crate are treated with an antiseptic.

The distance between the edge guides and the corners of the building should be at least 10 centimeters.

Warming scheme

After preparing the wall and installing the crate, you can begin to apply polyurethane.

The mixing of polyol and isocyanate occurs directly during the execution of works. These materials are supplied in two cylinders, which are connected to each other and to the sprayer using a hose.

Protective clothing (respirator, suit and gloves) must be put on before connecting the cans to the sprayer.

The connection of these components is tightened using a special wrench, which is included with most kits.

By default, the spray gun does not have a nozzle. It is worth putting it on only after a trial run of the insulation components (you can drain them into a plastic bag), which allows you to make sure that they come evenly from both cylinders.

External wall insulation

Moving cylinders is allowed only for those elements that are indicated in the instructions (in most cases, separate handles are provided for this).

Polyurethane spraying occurs in the direction from the bottom of the wall to its top. The optimum distance between the spray gun and the wall is 500-600 mm. It is most convenient to start spraying from hard-to-reach areas, subsequently moving on to filling the rest of the surface with insulation.

NOTE!

Before applying the next layer of foam, you need to wait for the previous one to dry., since otherwise the required thickness of the thermal insulation can be exceeded.

Thermal insulation of walls from the inside

At the end of the work, you need to remove the nozzle from the gun, close the taps on the tanks and remove the hoses.

The installation of wall cladding should be carried out as early as possible so that the insulation is not exposed to the damaging effects of sunlight.

Useful video

Video tutorial for applying PPU on the walls:

Conclusion

Polyurethane is one of the most high-tech materials used in private construction to insulate the walls of houses. It is distinguished by durability and reliability. The main disadvantages of polyurethane are the high price and complexity of installation.

In contact with

THERE IS NO SHOPPING IN POLYURETHANE FOAM!!!

We are one of the few companies in Russia that have the status of a certified PPU and PM contractor, in the system SDS "PPU and PM" "Production of sprayed and poured polyurethane foam, polyisocyanurate and sprayed polyurea in Russia"

This PRICE 2020 years of used closed-cell polyurethane foam PPU in construction with a density of 45-60 kg / m3 on a freon basis.

It is important to know: What about the insulation of enclosing structures polyurethane foam less than 40 kg / m3 of free foaming, the work is limited and requires a larger layer of insulation and additional measures for vapor permeability, etc. According to the company BASF PPU with a density of p = 30 kg / m³ (free foaming) refer to open-cell and cannot have λ< 0,035 Вт/

PPU with densities p = 6 - 35 kg / m³ (closed pores up to 85%) are not used in construction for thermal insulation of enclosing structures due to their physical and mechanical properties that do not meet the requirements STO 00044807-001-2006, SP 50.13330.2012.

Both the manufacturer of raw materials (components) for the production of rigid polyurethane foam and the contractor are obliged to properly inform their client (customer) about the type of product and its suitability for various design solutions.

• If you give an example of at least one regulatory (current) document, which says that lightweight polyurethane foam is used in thermal insulation of enclosing structures - I will personally come to you and produce thermal insulation by spraying polyurethane foam - FREE OF CHARGE.

Dear Clients, Colleagues, Partners!

We we do not produce insulation with materials (raw materials) manufacturer of PPU components: Himtrast, Ecotermix, Izopol, Penoglas, and even more so on a water basis. On this discussion of the data " thermal insulation materials " finished.

Only we can know everything about the materials, and you hear from hearsay. We offer you the best that is in the market of the sprayed heater.You pay not per layer PPU, and for the coefficient of thermal conductivity, vapor permeability, heat resistance, frost resistance and most importantly for durability polyurethane foam .

Cheap polyurethane foam changes its purpose to be an ideal insulation

Guarantee for the production of works (sprayed) PPU thermal insulation 7 years! Indeed, a very big disadvantage! taking into account the service life of polyurethane foam, it is from 30 to 50 years, and we (that's how harmful!) We give only seven!

Discounts and discounts are not provided for during insulation. We respect our work and value our customers. We do not retail or the sale of "expired goods" We do not belong to those companies where, "We found it cheaper" We will make it even cheaper! "Only with volumes and ideal conditions for the production of work, the cost of insulation is negotiated individually. Discounts and bonuses from our "competitors" + If the prices are ridiculous, then the quality is laughable ...

Fever - birds don't fly in flocks!!!

In terms of polyurethane foam spraying, we have NET "competitors"

Have you taken these tips to heart? Then check out production cost works by spraying and pouring rigid polyurethane foam containing closed cells (pores) more than 90%

Turn to professionals, amateurs are more expensive!!!

The price of insulation by spraying with rigid polyurethane foam is 1 m 3

Price for PPU spraying - 1 m 2 layer of insulation Polyurethane foam 50mm + 10mm

Price for spraying PPU - 1 m 2 layer of insulation Polyurethane foam 100mm + 10 mm

PPU type	Order volume, rub/m 2
	up to 300	from 300 to 1000	from 1000 to 3000	from 3000 and above
	2500	2450	2400	negotiable
	2400	2350	2300	negotiable

• Price per square meter insulation by spraying polyurethane foam.
• Sprayed foam cost (closed cell) core density 45-60 kg per m3 since 2015.

Warming pitched roof from inside a private house between the beams with a layer of rigid polyurethane foam Basf Elastocam, Russia Mansard roof insulation made of PPU metal tiles - 3017/H2 45/50 m3	80 mm - 2400 rubles. 60 mm - 1200 rubles.
Insulation of interfloor wooden, reinforced concrete slabs hard foam flooring Insulation of a flat roof on a reinforced concrete base PPU - 3017 / H2 50 / m3 Insulation of the ceiling from a profiled sheet, concrete ceiling from slabs. PenoPlain 45S Ultra 50/ m3 up to three meters high	50 mm -1080 rub. 60 mm - 1280 rubles. 50 mm - 1050 rubles.
Floor insulation with foam. Thermal insulation of a concrete, wooden floor in a wooden house, an apartment in a garage. Floor insulation on the ground floor in the apartment from the basement side PenoPlain 45S Ultra 50/ m3 system Floor insulation from the basement (subfloor), street: If the height is about one meter	50 mm - 1000 rubles. 50 mm - 1200 rubles.
Wall insulation wooden house from a bar outside for finishing.	70 mm - 1380 rubles.
Insulation of the walls of the house from foam blocks outside. Sprayed polyurethane foam density 48 kg/m3 Primefoam 3308 Thermal insulation of brick walls with polyurethane foam. Internal insulation of the walls of a house made of foam concrete or aerated concrete 3017/H2 45/50 m3	70 mm - 1450 rubles. 50 mm - 1150 rubles.
Insulation of the walls of the foundation of the house outside and the basement at a density of 50-55 kg / m3 PenoPlain 50S Ultra	50 mm -1000 rub.
Wall insulation from inside the basement in a private house Uremix-401, Russia	60 mm -1330 rub.
Wall insulation from the inside frame house rigid PPU Huntsman - NMG (HUNTSMAN)	100 mm - 2550 rubles.

Why exactly so many?

Yes, our rates are not the lowest on the market. And we will explain why this is so, and not otherwise. Reasonable prices are better than imaginary discounts!

Now in the field polyurethane foam spraying there is a lot of competition, and each company seeks to stand out in one way or another, to find its niche in the market. Many of them have chosen a rather simple, but not entirely honest way with respect to the client - dumping. To understand why this path is not entirely fair, let's look at what elements make up the final price for polyurethane foam spraying services .

• foaming materials.
• Other Consumables.
• Employee salary.
• Taxes.
• Advertising and other ways to attract customers.
• Unexpected expenses.
• Net profit of the company.

For convenience, we present their percentage in the form of a diagram.

Now let's look at how the company can reduce prices.

What is left for us?

• foaming materials.
• Other consumables.
• The cost of maintaining, repairing and updating equipment.
• Employee salary.
• Providing living conditions and accommodation for employees.

It is clear to everyone that a reduction in spending on any of these items is a direct or indirect blow to the final product quality .

Reducing equipment costs is the same.

But the question of reducing the wages of workers requires some clarification .

The fact is that people in the construction professions know their worth very well. No worker will work for a salary that does not correspond to the level of his qualifications. Qualified professionals, especially polyurethane foam specialists are now in high demand. Therefore, a decrease in wages will inevitably lead to a decrease in the qualifications of staff. And what is fraught with the performance of work on the spraying of polyurethane foam by an unskilled operator of the PPU installation, we will say a little lower.

All of the above also applies to the provision of accommodation, living conditions and organization of the workplace (other consumables: clothing, hygiene products, etc.). Normal specialists will not work in a company that saves on providing its employees with the necessary things.

Thus, a decrease in funding for any of these items leads to the fact that the quality of the coating suffers due to poor raw materials, insufficiently good equipment or due to low qualification of workers. And if a company dumps in full, then all these factors take place in one bottle.

Polyurethane foam is the best option for insulation for any structures (both frame and brick, block, panel, wooden) that do not experience serious mechanical stress.

This material can be used to insulate internal walls and the surface outside the facades of the house. When thermally insulating facades of wood, brick, or aerated concrete house, outside the polyurethane foam insulation, a frame is created for sheathing, on which facade panels are fixed, or similar facing materials - lining, siding, decorative concrete.

Polyrutan foam has good adhesion (adhesion to the coating), which allows for the insulation of any inclined surfaces. This determines the popularity of polyurethane foam thermal insulation of the roof of the house, when arranging the attic floor from the attic.

1.3 Thermal insulation of pipes

In the thermal insulation of pipes, ventilation shafts and elements of production lines, polyurethane foam is one of the main materials. Polyurethane foam insulation can be used for pipes, the temperature of the working environment in which is from -180 to +120 degrees.

The only caveat is that the diameter of the pipes should be large: it is difficult to use polyurethane foam for too thin pipe sections.

1.4 Repair work and construction of frame houses

Due to the liquid form of the material, any cavity can be filled with this insulation. PPU foam is the only insulation that can insulate the interior of hollow walls made of concrete or brick without violating the integrity of the house structure.

Polyurethane foam is the main heat-insulating material used in the process of building a wooden frame house. The walls of a frame house are wooden formwork filled with insulation - this technology allows you to build a cozy warm house in the shortest possible time.

2 Technical characteristics of PPU

As already mentioned, in terms of the effectiveness of thermal insulation, insulation with polyurethane foam has no analogues among widespread heaters.

There are two types of PPU insulation - with a closed and open cellular structure. The number of closed cells in closed-cell PPU is 92%, in PPU with open cells - 50%. These materials differ not only in density and strength characteristics, but also in terms of technical properties.

Consider the main technical characteristics of polyurethane foam insulation with closed cells:

• Thermal conductivity coefficient - 0.019 - 0.025 W / mk;
• Vapor permeability coefficient - 0.04 mg / mchPa;
• Density - from 18 to 300 kg / m³, depending on the application technology;
• Moisture absorption from volume when completely immersed in water for 24 hours - 1%;
• Combustibility class - G2 (hardly combustible materials);
• Temperature range from -180 to +130 degrees.

Sprayed open-cell polyurethane foam has the following technical characteristics:

• Thermal conductivity coefficient - 0.025 - 0.03 W / mk;
• Vapor permeability coefficient - 0.08 mg / mchPa;
• Density - from 8 to 20 kg / m³;
• Moisture absorption by volume when completely immersed in water for 24 hours - 15% as in.

The flammability class and temperature regime of open polyurethane foam are similar to closed-cell insulation.

As you can see, in virtually all technical characteristics, closed-cell PU foam is better than open-cell PU foam. In view of this, open polyurethane foam is rarely used for thermal insulation purposes.

The only advantage of the open cell material is its high noise suppression properties, due to which such PPU is popular in soundproofing residential and industrial premises.

2.1 Advantages and disadvantages

According to reviews, sprayed thermal insulation has only one significant drawback - high cost, which limits the growth in popularity of this material in private insulation.

Among the indisputable advantages of polyurethane foam insulation, which justify the high costs of insulating wood, or brick house, the following factors can be distinguished:

1. Efficiency - according to this parameter, PPU insulation is significantly better than thermal insulation by any other material;
2. Minimum weight - the mass of one cubic meter of polyurethane foam is about 50 kg, such a heater does not exert a serious load on the supporting structure of the roof of a wooden house, which allows it to be used to insulate old houses;
3. Reliability of adhesion to the surface - the adhesion of polyurethane foam with the walls of a wooden house is 1.5 kg / cm², with concrete walls– 2.5 kg/cm². This indicator indicates that the frame that holds the mineral wool is more likely to collapse than polyurethane foam insulation falls off the wall;
4. Ease of installation, as in the case with - sprayed technology is much simpler and faster than gluing, or installing insulation in a supporting frame;
5. Moisture and vapor impermeability - after drying, polyurethane foam forms a monolithic material that has neither joints nor microcracks, such insulation does not allow steam to pass through and does not absorb moisture even when immersed in a liquid for a long time;
6. Versatility - with the help of PPU, it is possible to insulate surfaces of any shape - pipes, facades, walls of a wooden frame house;
7. Durability - polyurethane foam is a chemically resistant material, it is durable, and is not afraid of rodents and microorganisms, which leads to over 30 years of service life of such thermal insulation.

3 Comparison of polyurethane insulation and polystyrene

The closest analogue of polyurethane foam in terms of technical characteristics, among widespread heaters, is expanded polystyrene.

Expanded polystyrene is a slab insulation made by foaming and subsequent extrusion of polystyrene granules. Expanded polystyrene has a number of advantages, due to which the use of this insulation is more preferable than the use of the rest of the slab thermal insulation.

• Expanded polystyrene is effective - the thermal conductivity of the material is 0.028 W / mk;
• Expanded polystyrene is quite simple to install - it is mounted on the surface of facades and walls using an adhesive composition;
• Expanded polystyrene does not absorb moisture (0.02% by volume), and is a vapor-tight material;

In comparison with sprayed polyurethane foam, expanded polystyrene is somewhat limited in functionality, since it can only be insulated flat surfaces. Expanded polystyrene is not used for arranging thermal insulation on the outside of pipes, ventilation ducts, internal insulation of the walls of a wooden frame house, and surfaces with complex geometry.

However, polystyrene foam has one key advantage - do-it-yourself insulation with polyurethane foam is impossible due to the fact that for the production of polyurethane foam, special equipment is needed at the workplace, while polystyrene foam can be purchased and installed independently without any problems.

Of course, you can use small cylinders with polyurethane foam, however, for insulation large surfaces- facades, walls of a wooden house, outside the foundation, etc. It is unprofitable to do this, due to the increase in the cost of insulation per square meter.

If you want to perform insulation with polyurethane foam, you will have to hire a team that will do everything quickly and efficiently. The current price of PPU thermal insulation of facades is 1500-1700 rubles per square meter of insulated surface, taking into account the cost of the material.

A conscientious owner of his own house always considers the issues of warming his home to be paramount. And this is absolutely the right position. Well-planned and well-made thermal insulation performs several important functions at once. It significantly reduces the heat loss of the building, which makes it possible with minimal energy costs to create in a residential building effective system heating. Thermal insulation helps well on hot summer days - it will not be hot in the house, and air conditioning units will not work with excessive load. And, finally, it is a guarantee of their long-term operation, a decrease in the level of destructive external influences on the building materials of walls, ceilings, and foundations.

However, it must be remembered that improperly performed thermal insulation is quite capable of causing serious damage to the building. The choice of insulation materials is an extremely important issue, since not all of them are acceptable in certain cases. Polyurethane foam is considered one of the most promising modern thermal insulators. But. And heated debates do not subside around this material - someone considers it a material with practically no flaws, but there are those who subject it to ruthless criticism. Let's try to understand this issue - polyurethane foam insulation pros and cons, somewhat summarizing and systematizing information from numerous construction sites and forums.

What is polyurethane foam

In the practice of private housing construction, polyurethane foam in our area has become widely used not so long ago. However, for sure, everyone has been familiar with this material since early childhood: foam rubber - and this is also one of the varieties of polyurethane foam, was used to make sponges for taking hygiene procedures, it was also used as stuffing for soft toys or children's furniture.

The familiar foam rubber is also one of the varieties of polyurethane foam.

Of course, other types of polyurethane are used to insulate building structures, but the basic chemical composition and the principle of obtaining the material remain the same. Feature of all polyurethane foams - high gas content, reaching 90% of the total volume of the solidified mass.

So, polyurethane foam refers to porous gas-filled polymers based on polyurethane components. Depending on the specific components used, an elastic elastic structure (the same foam rubber) or a rigid one, which is mainly used in thermal insulation measures, can be obtained at the input.

When insulating certain building structures, ready-made thermally insulating polyurethane foam parts can be used, for example, panels, blocks, half-cylinders (pipe shells), etc. However, compositions that are applied to insulated surfaces (or poured into cavities) in liquid form, but have the ability to self-foam and quickly polymerize and solidify, have the highest demand. Thus, in fact, the preparation of the desired composition takes place directly at the site of the insulation work.

• For large-scale work, two-component compositions are used. As a rule, modern technology involves the use of a polyol as a component "A", and a polyisocyanate as a "B".

Barrels with components "A" and "B"

The mixing of these components with the participation of a small amount of water leads to a polymer synthesis reaction with active release of gas (in this case, carbon dioxide), which creates a foamed, porous rigid structure. Such polyurethane foams have a closed cellular structure - the vast majority of air bubbles are completely isolated from neighboring ones.

The thermal conductivity of carbon dioxide filling the cells, under all other equal conditions, is significantly lower, by about a third, than that of air (0.016 W / m × ° C versus 0.026 W / m × ° C), which is another significant plus for polyurethane foam with closed cells, precisely as an effective insulation.

In some professional high-quality systems, freons are used as a blowing agent.

• At the household level, as well as for operations limited in area and volume (filling gaps, small openings, carrying out repair work etc.) one-component polyurethane foam compositions are more often used, better known to everyone under the name of polyurethane foams.

In fact, the components are already pre-mixed, and the composition required for polymerization is in pressurized cylinders. But for the final reaction, foaming and curing, contact with atmospheric oxygen and water is required (surface moistening and water vapor contained in the air). The result is a porous foam structure, the cells of which are open.

The structure of the hardened polyurethane foam- not so dense and uniform

The gas involved in forced foaming - freon, gradually disappears and is replaced by ordinary air, and such polyurethane foam cannot compete with closed-cell polyurethane foam in terms of thermal conductivity. He also loses in strength, resistance to external influences. Therefore, it is not worth seriously considering such compositions as the main ones for them - they have their own, and very popular, scope. The only criterion by which such an open-cell structure wins is sound absorption and sound insulation.

For comparison, the table below shows the main physical and operating parameters polyurethane foams of both types:

Basic parameters of materials	Comparative characteristics
	Closed cell polyurethane foam (two-component sprayed)	Polyurethane foam with open structure(mounting foam)
Thermal conductivity coefficient, W/m ×°С	0.019 ÷ 0.035	0.025 ÷ 0.045
Number of closed cells	Over 90%	Less than 50%
Expansion (foam rise) from original volume	1: 40	1: 70 ÷ 90
Density, kg/m³	20 ÷ 200	8 ÷ 18
Vapor permeability	0.02 ÷ 0.05	0.07 ÷ 0.15
moisture absorption	1 ÷ 3%	10 ÷ 60%
Waterproofing properties	Yes	No
Sound absorption properties	good	high

How polyurethane foam is applied to insulated structures

Since the topic of the article is directly related to thermal insulation measures, in the future we will consider mainly two-component polyurethane foam, which has a closed cellular structure, leaving aside mounting foams.

Prices for sprayed insulation

sprayed insulation

The creation of insulated structures or the imparting of thermal insulation qualities to building elements can be carried out using two different technologies - spraying or filling cavities (pouring).

• For sputtering, special technological installations are used. The layout of the complexes may be different, but in any case, the process boils down to the fact that the components "A" and "B" are taken from regular tanks or built-in tanks, pre-filled before starting work. Further, under the action of the pressure created by the compressor, the components, in transit through the control station, enter the spray gun.

The mixing of the components occurs already at the final stage - in the mixing chamber of the gun, and then under high pressure through the nozzle, the liquid mixture enters the insulated surface. In fact, the main reaction of polymer synthesis, with the release of heat and a large number carbon dioxide, leading to abundant foaming, occurs already on the treated surface.

Both the composition of the resulting polyurethane foam and its application under high pressure contribute to the excellent adhesion of the insulation to almost any surface - this distinguishing feature and one of the key advantages of this material.

Video: wall insulation with polyurethane foam spraying

The control elements of the process plant allow precise adjustment of the percentage ratio of components in the mixture, which largely determines the performance of the resulting coating. The pressure at the outlet, the maximum flow rate of the material at the nozzle of the gun can be adjusted.

For all the seeming simplicity of the technology, it has a lot of subtleties that only experienced specialists know. To carry out spraying on your own, even if you manage to rent a set of equipment, is a difficult task, unless, of course, the priority is the quality of the resulting insulation and the rational use of materials. By the way, many modern so-called "masters" who offer their services in this area also often sin with low professionalism. Buying your own device for spraying polyurethane foam does not mean immediately becoming a qualified specialist, in direct analogy with the fact that buying a car cannot immediately make a new owner an experienced driver. By the way, in Europe, the operator of the PPU spraying plant belongs to the category of highly qualified workers, training in this specialty takes even more than one year, and in the course of work at least once every 6 months, it is considered mandatory to pass a control certification. So, when choosing a contractor for the insulation of your own home, considerable caution is required - it is better to give your preference to a trusted company that guarantees quality, even if the services are a little more expensive than those of an unknown private trader.

The leader in the production of PPU spraying equipment is American company GRACO, which produces a whole line of special REACTOR units of various capacities. And in the field of production of high-quality component compositions for obtaining polyurethane foams, the products of the BASF concern deserve the maximum marks. This can also be taken into account when choosing a contractor, having familiarized himself with his technical equipment.

• The second option for insulating building structures with polyurethane foam is to pour the mixture into cavities specially left for this. A striking example is those built using "sandwich" technology.

Such work also requires knowledge of certain nuances and high experience of a specialist. The components are also supplied under pressure, but it is significantly lower than when sprayed onto the wall. Mixing is carried out in a special chamber of the gun, from where the mixture is already fed to the outlet, to the supply pipe. The equipment can be used the same as for spraying, only with a certain reconfiguration of the parameters. However, for the high-quality performance of work, there are also special filling installations, which provide for the use of special components with options for a kind of “delayed start” of foaming, so that there is enough time to introduce the mixture into the cavity (mould) before the active change in the structure of the composition begins.

In the structure filled with foam, holes are left in advance or holes are made for inserting the supply tube into the cavity, as well as for visual control of the filling level. The qualification of the master is of great importance here - you need to be well versed in the characteristics of the mixture being prepared: its expected volumetric expansion, the time for the full set of volume and the beginning of hardening. The operator must delicately maintain a balance between incomplete or loose filling of the cavity and possible ruptures or deformation of the insulated structure. A full-fledged visual control in such situations, as a rule, is impossible, and then the mistakes made can only be detected during the operation of the building or with the help of special equipment - a thermal imager.

For insulation of external enclosing structures, only polyurethane foam with a closed cellular structure is used. To create soundproof barriers in internal walls or ceilings, it is acceptable, from the point of view of economy, to use a cheaper open-cell foam.

Video: a good example of filling the cavity of a building structure with polyurethane foam

Real and far-fetched advantages and disadvantages of polyurethane foam insulation

It's time to talk about the advantages and disadvantages of polyurethane foam used for thermal insulation of building structures. To begin with, we will give a table with the main characteristics of the closed-cell material declared by manufacturers, and then we will analyze the main parameters in more detail.

The main characteristics of polyurethane foam	Indicators
Compressive Strength (N/mm²)	0.18
Ultimate bending strength (N/mm²)	0.59
Water absorption (% volume)	Max. 1 ÷ 3
Thermal conductivity (W/m ×°K)	0.019÷0.035
Content of closed cells (%)	up to 96
blowing agent	CO₂
Flammability class	B2
Fire resistance class	G2
Application temperature, not less than	+10 °С
Application temperature	from -150 ° С to +220 ° С
Application area	Thermal and waterproofing of residential and industrial buildings, containers, cars, boats, wagons
Effective service life	30 ÷ 50 years
Moisture, aggressive media	sustainable
Ecological cleanliness	After full polymerization - it is safe. Approved for use in residential buildings. Used in the manufacture of food refrigerators
Pour Time (seconds)	25 ÷ 75
Vapor permeability (mg/m×h×Pa)	0.05 ÷ 0.07
Cellularity	closed
Density (kg/m³)	40 ÷ 120

Low thermal conductivity?

Polyurethane foam is rightly referred to as one of the most reliable thermal insulators. True, sometimes they attribute to it completely “fabulous” properties, up to a record low thermal conductivity coefficient of 0.017 W / m × ° С.

About 0.017 is not even worth talking about - it's just unrealistic. But an indicator of 0.20 is found in publications quite often. Is it really?

talk about so much high rates thermal resistance is possible only with absolutely exact observance of all the requirements of the technology and the use of the highest quality materials and equipment. In a word, such a level is achievable, rather, theoretically. Similar results can only be achieved using a closed cell spray system in which Freon acts as a foaming agent. r141b, which in most European countries is already simply prohibited for production and use. The density of the created polyurethane foam coating should not exceed 30 kg / m³, which is extremely difficult to achieve under normal conditions.

The thermal conductivity coefficient of 0.022 W / m × ° C is already a more realistic indicator, but even for such a level of thermal insulation, it is necessary to strictly follow the spraying technology, with a coating density of no more than 36 kg / m³, and using the same freon r141b, the prohibition of which has already been mentioned above.

Thus, for example, in Europe, such low thermal conductivity values ​​are not even taken into account - a high-quality thermal insulation coating with a coefficient of about 0.028 W / m × ° C is considered there. But in fact, you can navigate something like this:

• If systems with a closed cell structure and a foaming agent based on a mixture of freons like Solkane® 365/227 are used, with unconditional observance of all the requirements of the application technology, then it is realistic to reach an indicator close to 0.026 W/m×°C. Alas, in our conditions, such systems are practically not used because of the high cost.
• If systems are used that use water as the blowing agent (the most typical case), then at best the coefficient will be 0.030 W/m×°C.
• If low pressure equipment is used, then the polyurethane foam poured into the cavity will ideally have a coefficient of 0.032 W / m × ° C.
• When spraying, for reasons of economy, polyurethane foam coating with an open cell structure, the lower limit is 0.037 W/m×°C. This, again, is in theory, since the porous structure of such a PPU absorbs moisture quite abundantly, and the thermal conductivity in reality can be even lower.

You can upset the reader a little more - often the combination of all circumstances (the use of not quite high-quality materials or spray equipment, violation of technological rules, etc.) leads to the fact that in reality the coefficient rises to 0.040 or even more W / m × ° WITH. This, in particular, applies to the advertised "soft" polyurethane foam with an open cell structure.

There is one more nuance. Over time, even in a closed cellular structure of polyurethane foam, freon or carbon dioxide diffuses with their weathering and gradual replacement with ordinary air. Therefore, thermal insulation qualities may decrease.

In general, even 0.030 and even 0.036 is quite a worthy indicator for a high-quality thermal insulation material. But it's still not worth counting on absolutely fantastic 0.020 or 0.022.

Excellent adhesion to all surfaces

This quality of polyurethane foam is considered to be one of its most important advantages. In many ways, we can agree with this, but still - with reservations. Not every polyurethane foam has such outstanding features, and it does not "glue" to all materials in the same way.

A simple example - normal adhesion with polyethylene will never be ensured. Serious problems cannot be ruled out if polyurethane foam is applied to a completely unprepared base, for example, with remaining whitewash or thin peeling plaster, which has not been cleaned of dust and dirt and degreased.

High-quality professional polyurethane foam systems are contraindicated in contact with a wet surface, while open-cell compositions, such as mounting foam, on the contrary, even require a certain amount of moisture.

It is also ridiculous to say that PPU has higher adhesion than any other compositions - there are primers, varnishes and paints that fit perfectly on galvanized metal, and in the case of polyurethane foam spraying, incidents can also happen here. For example, systems using water as a foaming agent should not be applied to galvanizing - good adhesion will not be achieved.

One more remark on this matter - it is possible to speak of high adhesion only if we are talking about PPU with a closed cell. There are cases when the applied layer of open-cell polyurethane foam simply flew around even under the influence of its not very large weight.

The only thing we can fully agree with in this aspect is that the adhesive qualities of polyurethane foam are such that the installation of the insulation layer will definitely not require additional materials and fasteners. This advantage is undeniable. And to evaluate the degree of adhesion is still the lot of technologists.

Is the process of applying polyurethane foam thermal insulation quick and easy?

Such a statement can be called controversial. To be more precise, it is better to divide it into two concepts - then it will be easier to “put everything in place”.

In terms of the speed of applying polyurethane foam by spraying, the process is indeed the leader. Of course, there is a certain dependence on the design features of the building, number of storeys, wall configuration, etc. But when compared with any other insulating material, then there are simply no competitors in terms of the rate of thermal insulation of the surface.

As for simplicity, the picture is somewhat different. It has already been said about the qualifications of the craftsmen and the quality of the equipment used and the materials used - there is no “smell” of simplicity here. Another thing is that the spraying technology makes it easy to apply polyurethane foam to the most complex shapes and to the most inaccessible places. At the same time, the process is practically waste-free (with a highly qualified operator), the coating is uniform and seamless, which greatly simplifies subsequent operations, and without "cold bridges" - the effectiveness of thermal insulation from this increases dramatically.

By the way, one of the generally recognized shortcomings of polyurethane foam insulation is precisely the difficulty of performing such work on our own.

Very high service life of polyurethane foam insulation?

Again, such a statement cannot be called categorical.

Firstly, it is possible to talk about a long service life only when using polyurethane foam with a closed cell structure. Those inexpensive open-cell coatings that are applied from the outside and become exposed to the most common atmospheric humidity (even without taking into account the likelihood of direct precipitation on them) are unlikely to last long. In terms of moisture absorption, they are no better than the same mineral wool, and it is at least naive to talk about decades of operation.

The worst enemy of polyurethane foam is the ultraviolet component of the solar spectrum

Secondly, even if high-quality closed-cell polyurethane foam is used, the ultraviolet component of the solar spectrum always contributes to a reduction in the service life. The material undergoes destructuring, becomes brittle, brittle, begins to succumb to abrasive abrasion and weathering. Even the highest quality PU foam systems can lose up to 1 mm of thickness per year due to exposure to sunlight. This is one of the negative qualities of polyurethane foam, and it must be taken into account when planning thermal insulation work.

Thirdly, not too high durability of the material can be caused by an incorrect percentage of components, a violation of the spraying technology (this is often the fault of many "offices" working in this field, using, for example, low-pressure equipment for applying the outer layer to the walls). And this is again the emphasis on right choice contractor.

But in general, if all the necessary conditions are met, then we can safely say that polyurethane foam is indeed the champion of all wall insulation. Evidence of this is the dismantled old houses in Northern Europe, which have served for 50 years or more - polyurethane foam thermal insulation layers remained intact and retained their basic qualities.

Biological stability - mold does not appear on PU foam, mice do not gnaw it?

Again, clarity needs to be clarified.

• Let's start with mold and other microflora. Colonies are formed where favorable conditions are created for this. This is high humidity and a certain temperature regime. Thus, if, by coincidence, the necessary "microclimate" is created, then mold may well appear on the surface of the material (if we are talking about a closed cellular structure), or even in its thickness (with open cells). This, for example, can be a closed and poorly ventilated room.

At the same time, with high-quality insulation with closed-cell polyurethane foam, the likelihood of the appearance of conditions for the development of microorganisms is not so high. The insufficiency of thermal insulation qualities, ending in constant accumulation of condensate, is not necessary to wait when using even a not so thick layer of polyurethane foam, and a closed cell does not accumulate moisture from the air. But the low probability of the appearance of "nests" of mold or fungus is not at all associated with any special antiseptic qualities of the material - everything follows from its main thermal characteristics. Well, polyurethane foam itself is certainly not a nutrient medium for microflora.

• The next question is. It can be divided into two aspects.

To say that polyurethane foam becomes an obstacle for them is completely unfounded. Yes, this polymer is absolutely not digested by their digestive system, but it is not a poison either. Just like that, of course, a mouse or a rat will not gnaw polyurethane foam - it does not represent any nutritional value for them. But if rodents need to make a passage from the street to a dwelling or to a food store, then the PPU layer will not be able to stop it.

Another thing is that in closed-cell polyurethane foam (as, indeed, in extruded polystyrene foam), mice or rats never organize their nest. In mineral wool or ordinary foam, the rodent settles willingly - the conditions necessary for life and reproduction are easily created there. And any cavity in PPU or EPS is a chamber impervious to air and moisture, in which normal heat exchange and long stay are impossible.

Conclusion - polyurethane foam will not become an obstacle for mice or rats, but it will not be a habitat either. We repeat - this applies to PPU with a closed cell. In an open-cell structure, nothing will prevent mice from making their warm and cozy “palace”.

Is polyurethane foam an absolutely environmentally friendly material?

This statement is very close to reality. If you "look around", you can not help but see that polyurethane foam is used in everyday practice almost everywhere, including in conditions of constant contact with human body, with food, with medical equipment, etc. Is this not an indicator of environmental friendliness?

But here an extremely important caveat follows - this will all be fair if only high-quality components were used during spraying (pouring), professional equipment, and the work itself was carried out by a truly qualified master. The fact is that the initial components are toxic and belong to II and III hazard groups, which, after mixing, reaction and polymerization, turn into completely safe polyurethane foam. However, the low quality of the initial compositions, incorrect proportions of feed to the mixer, other violations of the technology can shift the required balance, unreacted components remain, and the resulting coating can “acquire” very toxic properties in one direction or another. The negative reviews about polyurethane foam found on the network that it emits a pungent odor that causes discomfort - with 100% probability are caused by just such circumstances.

Another thing is that the deposition process itself requires extremely responsible security measures. Work must be carried out in special equipment, with mandatory protection of all open areas skin and mucous membranes. Particular attention is to ensure respiratory protection. According to the existing technological requirements, fully closed masks with a forced supply of clean breathing air should be used for this. By the way, this is another criterion for the conscientiousness and qualification of the craftsmen. If it is noticed that the workers are spraying in ordinary clothes, and of all the protective equipment they use only a gauze bandage, these are definitely “shabashniks”. If their leader does not take care of the health of his employees, he is unlikely to have a “headache” for the quality of the insulation being performed.

Very often, the most environmentally friendly materials are presented with natural heaters - such as moss, sawdust, linen tow, straw, etc. Everything seems to be correct here, except for one moment. Specifically, such materials become a rich breeding ground for microorganisms and insects, actively absorb a wide variety of substances from the surrounding air, which may well pose a danger to human health. High-quality closed-cell polyurethane foam has no such disadvantages.

You can immediately note the chemical resistance of polyurethane foam to the overwhelming amount used in Everyday life substances. He is not afraid of solutions of acids and alkalis (except for highly concentrated ones). Unlike, say, even extruded polystyrene foam, it can be decorated with any plaster compositions and paints on any basis.

Does the use of polyurethane foam allow you to abandon the vapor and waterproofing?

This advantage is valid only for closed-cell PPU. Indeed, both in the roofing and in the wall "pie" (with external spraying of the material on the walls), there is no need to use a hydro-vapor barrier internal and windproof waterproof membranes. And this, I must say, is a very significant simplification of everything. overall process work and significant savings.

However, it should be borne in mind that this is not always good. On the Internet, for example, there are constantly heated debates about the vapor permeability of materials. According to the "classic" scheme, it should increase in the direction from the inside of the premises towards the street - this ensures free removal of water vapor and reduces the likelihood of condensation in the thickness of the wall structure. The use of polyurethane foam can violate this pattern. In order for the room to be insulated from the outside to remain within the normal temperature-humidity balance, special attention will have to be paid to ventilation issues, or to provide for interior decoration that would prevent the penetration of vapors through the walls from the inside.

Insulation of a wooden frame with polyurethane foam is a very dubious event

The spraying of polyurethane foam on natural wooden frame, especially recently erected, the logs in which have not yet had time to free themselves from excess moisture. If you look at the vapor permeability table, then the indicator for sprayed polyurethane foam and softwood across the fibers is approximately the same, about 0.05 mg / m × h × Pa. Polyurethane foam "fur coat" under certain conditions can "preserve" moisture in wood, and this is dangerous by the occurrence of putrefactive processes. But for wood composites (plywood, OSB, chipboard), polyurethane foam is safe - its vapor permeability is even higher than theirs.

But polyurethane foam with an open cellular structure - practically does not differ from others in this respect. When using it, the use of hydro and wind protection will become a prerequisite.

Is the material fire retardant?

It must be said right away that technologists have not yet succeeded in creating a completely non-combustible polyurethane foam. With polymers, this is generally extremely complex issue simply because of their molecular structure and composition. Another thing is how combustible it is and to what extent it is dangerous in the event of a fire.

If the owner of the house chooses an inexpensive material from some eastern manufacturer, then this is most likely G-4 class polyurethane foam. And it should be noted that everything that burns belongs to this class. In such formulations, flame retardant additives are not used at all, or their concentration is frighteningly low. One can say unequivocally about such material - it burns “quite decently”, and it becomes a very difficult task to put it out. And he not only burns, but also becomes a flame spreader. Unfortunately, modern history is full of cases when, for example, polyurethane foam spraying caught fire from welding and burned out completely, which led to deformation and destruction of even strong wall structures. Thus, acquiring incomprehensible material from an unknown manufacturer, the owner to some extent "lays a mine" under his own home.

Since the “NG” class is still an unattainable horizon, technologists are trying to minimize the flammability of polyurethane foam by introducing special additives. Most of the high-quality compositions can already be classified as G-3 - the material will not ignite on its own, without exposure to an open flame. When the source of fire disappears, polyurethane foam dies, cokes, preventing the flame from spreading further. Unlike - it does not melt and does not flow. Smoldering of coked material is possible, but even under these conditions, combustion products are not as toxic as when burning foam, although they also pose a very formidable danger to human health and life.

There are also more fire-resistant varieties of polyurethane foam, which are classified as G-2 and even G-1. However, they have not yet received wide distribution. Their insulating qualities are lower, and the cost is about 3-4 times higher than that of popular G-3 class systems.

By and large, the degree of fire safety of the entire building only slightly depends on the type of insulation - usually this indicator is based on the correct structure of wall and roof structures. And high-quality polyurethane foam, even class G-3, can rather play a positive role here.

The consequences of a fire - polyurethane foam did not allow the fire to spread

For example, the photograph below shows the aftermath of a fire that occurred in a room above. The sprayed polyurethane foam on the ceiling burned out and coked, but did not transfer the flame below. At the border of the ceiling with the wall and on the upper part of the wall, the material was only touched by thermal decomposition, and below it, it generally remained intact. In addition to, in fact, low flammability, this was also facilitated by the extremely low thermal conductivity of the material - it does not contribute to the spread of high temperatures necessary for the emergence of a flame.

So, in the publication quite objectively, from the point of view of the author, the main properties of polyurethane foam used as a heater were considered. Having become acquainted with the advantages and disadvantages of this material, having studied the possibility of inviting really qualified specialists with high-quality component systems and cool equipment, having roughly calculated the “bookkeeping” of the upcoming work, it will be possible to make a decision. If the arguments seem unconvincing - full right choose any of the other heaters suitable for this design.

Variety of insulation materials

Helping you choose the right one comparative analysis, given in a special article of our portal.

Calculator for calculating the thickness of the insulation layer

And one more help to the reader - to quickly evaluate and compare the effectiveness of heaters and accurately calculate the required thickness of the thermal insulation layer on the wall, a special calculator below will help.

To use it, you must first find the value of the required heat transfer resistance, calculated for a particular region. It is shown on the map below. Purple numbers are taken into account - for walls and enclosing structures.

After that, it remains to enter the requested values ​​​​and indicate the planned or existing parameters of the wall structure (if exterior finish made according to the principle of a ventilated facade - it is not taken into account). The program will perform all other calculations itself.

Many of those who have come across the issue of insulation (it doesn’t matter what exactly - roofs, walls, floors, garages, houses, sheds) are only familiar with the most common and cheap materials. These include polystyrene and mineral wool - thermal insulation with their help has been used for a long time, it can be sold by hand, it is inexpensive.

However, since the beginning of this century, other materials have begun to gain popularity on the market - more efficient, better, more efficient. A prime example is polyurethane spray foam. This technology deserves special attention. By the way, we recommend.

1 About polyurethane foam and its properties

Before proceeding to the description of the technology, it is required to familiarize yourself in more detail with the properties and characteristics of the material itself.

According to Wikipedia, polyurethane foam (or PPU - a commonly used abbreviation) is: "... a group of gas-filled plastics, 85-90% consisting of inert gases ...".

However, such a designation will certainly seem complicated and incomprehensible to the average person, so we will describe this material in a simpler and more accessible way. PPU is obtained directly at the work site, from two liquid components. This:

1. Polyol, or component A.
2. Isocyanate, or component B on.

Polyol is the polymer base of the material. In the initial state, it is a low-toxic and non-explosive liquid of a yellowish (from light yellow to brown) hue. Polyol is produced by some Russian companies.

Isocyanate is an imported product (the main producers at the moment are Bayer, Huntsman, Dow Chemical). It is a sharp-smelling dark liquid.

Easily reacts with moisture, and even with that which is contained in the air - due to which a precipitate appears, which makes the material unsuitable for further use. As a result, during storage and transportation, it must be kept in tightly sealed containers.

The polyurethane foam itself is obtained by mixing the two components mentioned above. For this, special equipment is used - an installation with a tank and a sprayer (which, in fact, the material is applied).

Depending on the proportions of the above components, it is possible to obtain a final material of varying degrees of hardness. The most elastic, for example, include the familiar foam used as a filler for furniture.

But for construction (i.e. for insulation), rigid polyurethane foam is used (there are about 30 of them).

The preparation scheme described above is at the same time a disadvantage of the material. With your own hands, it is quite difficult to properly prepare PPU for the desired composition. In addition, the materials are sold only in barrels, from 100 liters, and it will not be easy to use the technology alone - even if you have special equipment.

1.1 Characteristics and properties of PPU

Let's touch on the most significant issue - the characteristics of the material. Any thermal insulation must first of all retain (not let through) heat. In numbers, this parameter is expressed in terms of thermal conductivity, and the smaller it is, the better. For PPU, it is approximately 0.02-0.03 W / mK. For comparison:

• thermal conductivity of mineral wool: about 0.045 W / mK;
• foam: about 0.04-0.045 W/mK;
• expanded clay: about 0.14 W/mK;
• foam glass: about 0.8 W/mK.

Not less than an important factor There is also the question of resistance to moisture. In this regard, no material can compare with PPU - polyurethane foam is resistant to contact with water. It does not get damp, does not absorb liquid, does not grow moldy - it does not react to moisture at all.

This makes her very, very topical solution and for roofs, and for walls, and for floors - yes, for any surface of any buildings where at least some contact with moisture is possible.

Let's give a specific figure: the percentage of moisture absorption of PPU is about 1, like that of. It may vary - depending on the density of the foam. The denser the material, the less moisture it will absorb. If necessary, the moisture resistance of polyurethane foam can be improved - for this, special components are added during the preparation process (for example, castor oil).

This will be relevant, for example, for roofs - structures can pass water (rain, snow), and therefore thermal insulation must be properly protected from contact with water. However, this further complicates the process of cooking with your own hands - since you need to know exactly what and how much to add.

In addition to moisture, the insulator is resistant to the following compositions:

1. Petrol.
2. plasticizers.
3. Alcohol.
4. Oils.
5. Ethers.

As for flammability, PPU can belong to three groups:

1. Self-extinguishing (or C).
2. Fire-retardant (TS).
3. Flammable (TV) as .

The group can be influenced by the use of various additives - fillers. Their role can be played by various halogens, phosphorus compounds. Polyurethane insulation with such additives can be used for rooms where there is an increased risk of fire (for example, for walls and roofs of baths, workshops, boiler rooms).

The density of polyurethane foam with, as mentioned above, may vary - depending on what the ratio of the components used will be. It can be from 30 to 200 kg / m³.

In principle, the most severe option is used mainly in industry - for household solutions you can get by with foam with average performance (up to 80 kg / m³), ​​which has an affordable cost. Again, it’s not so easy to guess with concentration with your own hands, which once again indicates that only specialists need to use the technology.

1.2 About the shortcomings of the material

Thermal insulation with the help of such a material has its drawbacks:

1. When the temperature rises to +500 degrees, the material releases carbon dioxide and carbon monoxide gases.
2. The material is "afraid" of organic solvents and mineral acids.
3. The material may lose its properties in direct contact with ultraviolet (sunlight).

The above points can hardly be attributed to significant shortcomings - they are also characteristic of almost any insulation, and you can spoil the effect of using the material only if you neglect the most simple rules insulation installation.

1.3 About application technology (video)

2 About application technology

Unlike sheet and roll insulation (like polystyrene and mineral wool), thermal insulation with PPU is significantly different for the better. We have already mentioned it briefly above, now let's take a closer look at exactly how the process of insulation with polyurethane looks like.

First of all, equipment and barrels with components A and B are delivered to the place of work. The equipment is a small-sized installation with a container - in which, in fact, the components are mixed.

This container can be equipped with automatic heating - since for a high-quality result, the foam must be kept under certain conditions, one of which is temperature.

Such equipment weighs from 20 kg (mini-installations with relatively low characteristics, used mainly to cover small areas - houses, sheds, garages).

More serious units can weigh about a centner - their use is more relevant when thermal insulation is required for roofs, walls or floors of large buildings - hangars, industrial facilities. The equipment can be equipped with both one and two hoses - to speed up the process.

2.1 About the advantages and disadvantages of technology

The pros and cons of the material itself have already been discussed above. Now let's consider what is so good and what is bad about the technology itself.

The following factors can be safely attributed to the advantages:

1. High speed - spraying in 1 working day can cover from 100 "squares" (for comparison, thermal insulation of walls, roofs or floors of such an area using foam will take 2 times more time).
2. Lack of seams and joints - because the sprayed foam creates a monolithic layer.
3. Adhesion to any coatings - PPU adheres equally well to any material of walls, floors, ceilings - any surface: concrete, wood, brick.
4. Convenient and fast insulation of structures of any complexity - with bends, irregularities, height differences, corners, protrusions, recesses.
5. Sealing of cracks, joints, seams, chips.
6. No urgent need to create a multi-layer structure (for example, mineral wool requires fastening of the crate, vapor and waterproofing, the use of glue and dowels).

If you do not find too much fault with the properties of the material itself (we are talking about the list of disadvantages of polyurethane foam, which were mentioned above), we can safely say that polyurethane insulation technology is the best at the moment.

There is, in fact, only one significant drawback, and it has also already been cited - this is the difficulty in doing the work yourself.