Polyurethane foam: characteristics and reviews. Heater polyurethane foam: the pros and cons

When choosing the building materials, we proceed from different indicators, but the main requirements remain high quality, durability and affordability of the price. All these requirements meet the modern heater and waterproofing foam polyurethane, the characteristics of which allow it to be used in a variety of areas. In addition, varieties of PPC are widely used in the creation of mattresses and furniture, which indicates the high quality and safety of materials.

What are the advantages?

First of all, we note that this material is in great demand due to the fact that it is possible to finish any premises, and you will be able to save considerably on further spending. The distinctive features of this heater include:

1. Environmental safety and non-toxicity: this is confirmed by repeated testing of the material.
2. Sprayed polyurethane foam is easy to use and inexpensively dispenses.
3. Increasing the thermal insulation properties, which reduces the level of costs for additional heating of the premises by almost 40%.
4. Durability of operation: PPU can last about 30-40 years without losing its properties.
5. Energy efficiency, which is ensured by the absence of joints, seams, thermal bridges.
6. Since the insulation is applied by spraying, there is no need to use fasteners. And this means that bridges of cold will not be formed , and the building will maintain its integrity for a long time.
7. PPU is resistant to fire, which is also very important.
8. Polyurethane foam is characterized by heat and frost resistance and can be operated in the temperature range from -70 to +130 degrees.
9. The material is resistant to chemical agents, gasolines, oils, bitumen, paints.

Polyurethane foam: technical features

The material of the foam polyurethane characteristics are as follows. First, the PUF is characterized by good adhesion, i.e., adhesiveness to various surfaces. Secondly, the cover made of polyurethane foam is strong - it can be safely walked. Thirdly, due to the low weight, the load on the building structures does not increase. Fourth, PPU is universal, because it combines the functions of vapor barrier and waterproofing materials. So, when using it, a sealed layer, resistant to water and air, is formed.

Material polyurethane foam allows you to reduce the time for conducting insulation work, while the coating layer is obtained as a whole without joints and gaps. And this means that later the surface will not be destroyed under various influences.

Where is it applied?

PPU is widely used for thermal insulation in housing construction, sound and heat insulation of industrial and civil structures, for cold isolation of holds, refrigeration units, for increasing the safety and buoyancy of timber products supplied by water rafting. Thus, the polyurethane foam characteristics are very different, allowing the material to be used in various fields.

It should be said that all the materials sprayed have several advantages:

• Serve as metal protection against corrosion;
• Are a good waterproofing, insulation;
• They have good adhesion to any surface;
• Quickly applied.

PPU for refrigeration

Polyurethane foam, whose technical characteristics are so diverse, is used for refrigeration equipment. Its purpose is to isolate the enclosing structures, pipes that supply liquefied nitrogen and ammonia. When creating molded parts for cars, elastic, thermoformed, semi-rigid is used, and it is needed for the production of molded parts. The material is also used to create various decor elements for furniture.

PPU in light industry

In this case, polyurethane foam for mattresses is very popular. The material characteristics in this case are as follows:

• practicality;
• functionality;
• durability;
• Providing orthopedic properties;
• A variety of mattress models - with springs, in several layers or with a modified product geometry.

In the light industry based on polyurethane foam is used to produce synthetic leather, dubbed fabrics. We also need material in car building and aircraft construction when creating molded parts of high quality, resistant to fire.

The most common is foam for mattresses. The characteristics of this material perfectly meet the requirements of the manufacturers of these sleeping accessories, since it is not inferior to natural materials in quality, but at a price it is much more profitable to choose. The use of foam for the production of mattresses is advisable, because it differs:

• Strength;
• Durability;
• Elasticity;
• Security;
• Hypoallergenic.

The peculiarity of the material is its softness, so the mattresses are comfortable and provide a comfortable rest. In addition, it does not cause allergic reactions, respectively, you can put a mattress in the nursery and in the room of an elderly person.

PPU for furniture

Manufacture of furniture is another sphere in which this material is widely used, and here it is demanded precisely elastic polyurethane foam. For the first time this material was created back in the 30s in Germany, and today varieties of this material are used, which are used in the manufacture of mattresses and furniture. Due to the high quality of the PPU, it can be used to decorate various areas of upholstered furniture, where density and stiffness is required, which protects the product from deformation. PPU is widely used in the creation of armrests and headrests, as well as seats, and the higher the quality of the raw materials, the longer the material will last.

Features of elastic PPU

Elastic polyurethane foam has a different degree of rigidity, so it should be chosen depending on the purpose. For example, PPU of high softness is in demand in furniture where there are no springs. Elasticity also plays a big role, since a combination of decking, for example, on the seats, depends on this factor. It is also important that the polyurethane foam meets safety requirements, as each piece of furniture is subjected to sanitary and hygienic research. If it is required to create soft elements of complex shape, a special shaped polyurethane foam is used, which is created in high precision shapes.

For furniture, polyurethane foam, whose characteristics are so diverse, are obtained by mixing different polymers with a synthetic base. Feature of this filler for furniture in:

• The possibility of transformation;
• Varying degrees of rigidity;
• Reliability;
• Durability.

Thermal insulation with polyurethane foam

Polyurethane foam, the technical characteristics of which open wide opportunities for its use in a variety of areas, is formed by mixing two liquid components - polyol and isocyanate. When the walls are insulated, the installation of the material is carried out in two ways - by spraying or pouring. To the positive moments of the use of polyurethane foam as thermal insulation material, the following can be attributed:

1. Material polyurethane foam is ideal for finishing walls, roofs, floors, and you can work with it from inside as well as from outside.
2. PPU is used for finishing any surfaces.
3. Excellent noise insulation.
4. High resistance to the effects of various chemical compounds - acids and alkalis.
5. The possibility of operation in any temperature conditions.
6. High mechanical strength.

The sprayed polyurethane foam adheres well to any surface, be it concrete, brick or wood. Filling all cracks and crevices, the material forms a reliable and monolithic coating. When using spraying in the finish frame house provides its reliable protection against corrosion, in addition, the PPU is resistant to decay, the appearance of mold and microorganisms.

Cons of insulation

Widely used for insulation of houses polyurethane foam. Its technical characteristics are good, but nevertheless there are a number of nuances that should be taken into account when using it. The most important drawback is the high cost of work, especially if you invite specialists with equipment. The second point - if the PPU illuminates, then the fire can be extinguished, but the material itself will smolder for a long time and release harmful substances. The third is the limited exterior finish, if a polyurethane foam heater is used. The characteristics make it possible to use it on any surfaces, but it is necessary to consider what material the further finishing will be performed.

What do professionals advise?

1. Warming of walls with the use of polyurethane foam can be carried out only from the outside.
2. Inside the room must be provided maximum protection of the heater from the effects of moisture, sunlight.
3. If the insulation of the frame walls is carried out, the internal premises must necessarily be completely hermetic, so that the finishing material does not let air into the room.

Polyurethane foam: characteristics, consumer reviews

Widely used this material for roofing, and here are popular its two varieties - elastic and hard. The first has an open porous structure, which is filled from the inside with air or carbon dioxide. This material is good in that it allows to achieve high sound insulation of premises with a low coefficient of thermal conductivity. Rigid polyurethane foam has a structure with closed cells, in which about 3% of the solid, while the remaining volume is the cells. Due to its high density, this material is widely in demand in construction.

Why PPU?

Materials for warming the roofing system are many, but more and more popular is polyurethane foam. Comparative characteristics with the usual mineral wool speak in favor of the choice of the first material, and the distinctive features of thermal insulation of the PPU roof include the following:

1. The material is light and does not deform during prolonged use.
2. Thanks to the porous structure it serves as an excellent protection against moisture.
3. When heat-insulated with polyurethane foam, heat loss can be significantly reduced.
4. During use, the material does not emit harmful substances.

It is important that for insulation with polyurethane foam it is not necessary to completely disassemble the structure, since it is applied easily and simply to any surface. Also, it is not necessary to pre-prepare the surface for work, since the PPU itself successfully copes with any of its irregularities. The application is carried out with special equipment, so it is not necessary to cut the mineral wool plates, and then adjust them to each other.

Self-insulation can be carried out in two ways - by pouring or spraying. The first method is good in that it makes it possible to work with any relief and in any of its states. Accordingly, you can safely plan various arches, ledges, columns. This method is also good when carrying out work in difficult places, during restoration. Thermal insulation in this case will be of high quality, airtight, since all seams and joints will be treated. Spraying polyurethane foam is performed by special equipment, at the same time the density of the applied layer varies.

conclusions

Thus, the characteristics of the foam are completely different for the material. For furniture, for example, one version suits, for insulation - completely different. And if in the first case there are simply no alternatives to this material, in the case of insulation of housing, you can choose from a variety of options. And all the modern builders, and those who are engaged in the insulation of their homes on their own, prefer the PPU. First, it is inexpensive. Secondly, it is applied simply and in several ways, which allows to choose the optimal solution for each user. Thirdly, with proper application, it will not leave joints and seams, which will be a priori sealed. So, your house will surely be warm. No less qualitative are mattresses filled with polyurethane foam, which once again speaks in favor of his choice.