Modern sealing materials play an essential role in construction and finishing works. Depending on their composition, they have specific properties and, accordingly, applications.
WHAT IS POLYURETHANE FOAM USED FOR?
Polyurethane assembly foam is a synthetic polyurethane sealant in an aerosol package, which when sprayed under pressure into an empty space expands its volume and hardens. The dried and hardened material is similar in quality to polystyrene. It is used for seals and filling internal panel joints. Today, both home craftsmen and professional builders cannot imagine installing windows and doors, as well as many other repair and finishing works related to sealing and sealing, without this unique foam. Working with it is easy and convenient. The sealant penetrates even the most difficult-to-reach cracks, joints and openings, fills them with its foamy structure and after a few hours turns into hard plastic.
The mounting foam is sold in bottles containing the liquid prepolymer and the inert gas. With the help of the latter, pressure is created in the aerosol package, ensuring the release of the active composition from the bottle and its dispersion into free space. Coming out of the bottle, the composition interacts with the moisture of the air and the contact surfaces, as a result of which the polymerization reaction occurs (hardens).
THE SEALANTER IS SUITABLE FOR WORKING WITH ALL BUILDING MATERIALS
The main properties of polyurethane foam, due to which it is highly valued by builders, are: assembly (connects, attaches individual parts of the structure), soundproofing, heat insulation and sealing. In addition to them, the sealant has other unconditional advantages. It fills the entire space provided to it and is self-hardening, which facilitates the work. For comparison, in the past, cement mixtures were used to seal various cracks, with which the work was significantly complicated, impossible in hard-to-reach places and in many cases - insufficiently effective.
Another very valuable quality of this material is that it has universal application. Today, more than a thousand options for its use in construction and industry are known. It is suitable for working with all traditional construction materials - wood, stone, concrete, masonry, gypsum, plaster, metal, glass, PVC and others. The only exceptions to this rule are polyethylene, polypropylene, Teflon and silicone.
WHAT IS POLYURETHANE FOAM USED FOR?
Thanks to its insulating properties, the assembly foam is used to fill cracks and gaps in wall, floor and roofing materials, for cavities around door and window frames, as well as for insulating heating and water pipes. It also successfully performs the role of waterproofing for roofs, foundations and swimming pools. Due to its adhesion properties, the assembly foam is in many cases a suitable substitute for glue. For example, it is used to fix structural elements of windows and doors, after which the use of screws and nails is not necessary, or to glue wall insulation materials. If, for example, you want to insulate walls with foam plastic panels, the easiest and most effective way to glue them is with assembly foam. It is also used for soundproofing pipelines and air conditioning systems, because it reduces the noise from their operation. In this case, its wide operating temperature range is important - from -60 to +120°C.
Other advantages of the sealant are that it is moisture-proof (suitable for damp rooms as well as for outdoor use), does not conduct electricity, is fireproof (in an already dried state) and is resistant to rot. Polyurethane foam is the most elastic compared to other sealing compounds. Its elasticity is about 910%, while for silicones it is 250%, and for acrylic sealants - 150%. That is why it is preferred for sealing joints between materials prone to thermal expansion.
It may be interesting to note that, in addition to being a material in construction, repair, and finishing works, foam is used by some decorators to make various interior decorations.
HOW TO RECOGNIZE QUALITY MOUNTING FOAM?
To be considered high-quality, a mounting foam must meet several requirements. It must adhere well to the contact surface without flowing down it. It is undesirable to have a high degree of shrinkage (its property to reduce its volume after complete drying). Perhaps here is the time to note that polyurethane foam has the lowest percentage of shrinkage after drying compared to acrylic and silicone sealants. It is required that the foam be sufficiently elastic and not crack after drying (especially in cold weather). The weight of the bottle should be 850-920 g with a foaming agent content of 750 ml.
As it became clear, the possibilities of mounting foam are unlimited. You just need to know how to use it. Therefore, we advise you to always carefully read the manufacturer's instructions and strictly follow them. The correct use of the product is just as important for the final effect of the work as the quality of the material. To be useful to you in this regard, we will introduce you to some advice from specialists in this field.
USE FOAM IN WARM WEATHER!
When working with mounting foam, the use of gloves, goggles and protective clothing is mandatory. Do not smoke and ensure good ventilation in the premises. Store the bottles in a cool, dry place, upright.
It is recommended to work with this product in warm weather, when the air temperature is from +5 to +30°C. In these temperature ranges, the polymerization (hardening) process proceeds best. Of course, the exception is winter formulas, specially developed for work at lower temperatures.
It is a good idea to familiarize yourself with the nature of the specific task in advance. Polyurethane foam is best suited for filling joints that are 1 to 8 cm wide. If the crack is larger, it would be more appropriate to use a cheaper material (such as plastic, foam or wood) to reduce the gaps and then fill the remaining spaces with the foam. For joints narrower than 1 cm, silicone sealants or putties are more often used.
HOW IS MOUNTING FOAM APPLIED?
The surface is cleaned of volatile particles, dust and grease. It is advisable to wet the gap before spraying the material (easily using a spray bottle) to facilitate polymerization. The optimal conditions for using the product are air temperature +20°C and relative humidity from 60 to 80%.
Before use, shake the bottle for at least one minute, because the assembly foam consists of various chemical components that must be mixed well. Then, remove the bottle cap, attach the adapter tube, and turn the bottle upside down. The bottle must remain in this position throughout the entire operation. The reason for this is that the gas (propane-butane, dimethyl ether, isobutane, or other gas) that creates pressure to push the foam out is lighter and must be above it, at the opposite end of the bottle opening. Then proceed to apply the polyurethane foam. It is recommended to spray the material within a range of one third to one half of the depth of the joint, because it will increase its volume two to three times. If you are filling vertical openings, start working from the bottom up. This way, the liquid foam will still have something to attach to. Then the foam is sprayed with water and if after 30 minutes it has not completely filled the gap, it is added more, without overdoing it. In case more than the required amount of foam is sprayed, the excess outside the joint boundaries is cut with a knife. The material hardens completely after at least 8 hours.
When working with polyurethane foam, protect surrounding surfaces with paper or polyethylene film. If stains do remain, they must be removed immediately with a special polyurethane cleaner or acetone. Hardened foam can only be removed mechanically.
THE GUNS APPLY THE FOAM WITHOUT WASTE
When using mounting foam professionally, it is recommended to use guns with the necessary speed and accuracy. They allow for adjustments and ensure accurate dosing of the product, thus preventing unnecessary losses. The adapters of these guns are made of a material that polyurethane residues cannot adhere to and cause blockages. Teflon is usually used for this purpose. The tips of the adapter must have a tight closure without air access to avoid hardening of the sealant when the gun is not in use.
PROTECT THE FOAM FROM UV RAYS
It is important to know that the mounting foam is not resistant to the effects of ultraviolet rays. Therefore, after drying, its surface must be treated with a sealing compound, paint, plaster, putty, skirting board or other material resistant to the action of this factor. Without the necessary protection, after 1-2 years the mounting foam turns yellow and begins to crack.
If you use quality material and follow the instructions for use, the durability of the sealant will be 25-40 years for indoor use and 10-15 years for outdoor use. For comparison, silicone and acrylic sealants have a durability of 10-20 years indoors and 2-3 years outdoors.
For cases where the polyurethane foam is transparent under the protective layer, there is a wide range of colors so that the product is aesthetically compatible with the color of the facade, the pool or the window and door frames.
WHAT DO WE OFFER?
With us you can find a wide variety of foam, designed for manual use and for application with guns. There are also differences in the volume of the bottles - 300, 500 and 750 ml. As we noted, it is best to use the sealant in warm weather, but with us you will find foam produced according to a winter formula, with which you can work even at a temperature of -10 ° C. In this product group we also offer polyurethane glue, as well as cleaners.
The useful properties of the material are present to varying degrees in individual items, which is indicated in their technical data sheets.
The offers in our sales list are from the brands CERESIT, SOUDAL, HAUSER, MOMENT, WEBER, SIKA. As you can see, we have relied on proven manufacturers in the industry to give you a one hundred percent guarantee of quality.
The prices of the products in this group are very affordable.
