In the process of repair and construction work, both beginners and professional repairmen and builders invariably deal with such a type of universal insulating material as polyurethane foam (another name for it is one-component foam).
This type of polyurethane sealant perfectly fills any cracks, voids and cavities, and also has such characteristics as heat and sound insulation, low electrical conductivity, moisture resistance, fire resistance. Cured polyurethane foam becomes hard, porous and light, but at the same time this substance is often very sensitive to ultraviolet light, therefore it turns yellow and collapses under the influence of sunlight.
There are several types of this building composition differing in the principle of use and in relative temperature conditions under which repair work is carried out.
Professional foam. Usually it is used with a special assembly gun. It differs in the density of the composition, and the secondary expansion of this sealant is almost absent. You should never use professional foam for minor home repairs, since its output from the cylinder is 3 times higher than household foam.
Semi-professional. This is household foam that needs to be used in one go and does not require a gun as the can is fitted with a tube. The density of the composition is lower than that of professional foam, and the secondary expansion is greater, therefore, this composition is not suitable for serious work, such as installing windows, window sills and doors.
Summer composition. They can work at temperatures from +5 to +35 degrees.
Winter foam. Its composition differs from the summer one, the sealant can be used during severe frosts, as it can withstand temperatures down to -20 degrees.
All-season. Combines the characteristics of winter and summer and can be used at temperatures from -10 to +30 degrees.
Fireproof. On the cans you can see the marks - B1, B2, B3. These are the designations of the flammability of the material, where B1 is refractory, B2 is self-extinguishing, and B3 is a combustible substance. Of course, type B1 is preferable, which has a special fire-fighting composition and retains all its properties at high temperatures.
How to choose polyurethane foam?
When choosing a sealant, you should focus on several basic requirements for foam:
Elasticity. The higher the quality of the foam, the more elastic it is;
Shrinkage. In other words - the reduction of foam on drying, which should be minimal;
Structure. The composition should be thick and tenacious enough to adhere well to any surface and not drain;
Frost resistance. The solidified substance should not crumble and crack at low temperatures if construction and repair work is carried out outside the premises;
Porosity.The foam should not be too porous, otherwise the heat and sound insulation properties of the material decrease;
Expansion. During the release of the foam from the cylinder, as well as during its complete solidification, the expansion of the substance occurs, which should be minimal. Otherwise, excessive expansion of the foam can, for example, distort the door frame when installing doors;
Setting speed. The speed and productivity of work in general depends on this indicator.
Weight. A can of good quality, undiluted formulation should weigh approximately 910 grams.
Rating of mounting foams
There is a wide variety of types of sealants from different manufacturers, but there are actually not so many formulations that have firmly won positive reviews and popularity of users. Unfortunately, very often there are low-quality formulations that not only do not cope with their main responsibilities, but are also dangerous to health, since they contain harmful toxins. That is why it is very important to make the right choice, which guarantees high-quality repairs without harm to health.
Moment Installation
A very popular company, the foam of which is professional and household, as well as all-season - it is used at any temperature. With its main function - filling voids and sealing seams - it copes well. Suitable for finishing works. The average cost is 320 rubles.
polyurethane foam Moment Installation
Advantages:
the composition is dense and homogeneous;
adheres well to various types of surfaces;
economical consumption;
can be used for both interior and exterior renovation work.
Disadvantages:
strong secondary expansion;
poor-quality foam is often found;
not suitable for thermal insulation;
fragility, eventually darkens and collapses.
Makroflex
Another popular manufacturer whose products are highly economical. The polyurethane foam of this company is most often all-season, has good adhesion to building materials, in addition, it is moisture resistant. The composition of the sealant is characterized by a homogeneous mass, showing minimal secondary expansion. Mounting foam of this brand is suitable for work on the installation of windows and doors, for the repair of plumbing, as well as for the usual sealing of seams, creating sound insulation. The balloon is convenient because it can be used together with a special pistol. The average cost is 200 rubles (for a cylinder with a volume of 0.75 liters).
polyurethane foam Makroflex
Advantages:
good performance of heat and sound insulation;
the composition is not toxic;
high service life;
fire resistance;
availability.
Disadvantages:
defective products are common;
when dry, strong shrinkage occurs;
sensitive to direct sunlight.
Soudal
The polyurethane foam of this company is gaining popularity due to its quality characteristics and good properties. There are three types - summer, winter (maximum operating temperature -20 degrees) and, produced separately, fire-resistant. Moreover, the composition of the sealant does not contain toxic substances and does not have a strong odor. The material is very dense in structure, characterized by a minimum number of pores, due to which there is no shrinkage after the sealant dries. It dries quickly and, most importantly, evenly. Often used for professional window installations. The average cost of this polyurethane foam is 350 rubles.
polyurethane foam Soudal
Advantages:
high quality;
the ability to work at low temperatures;
large foam yield;
good waterproofing performance;
shows weak secondary expansion;
adheres well to various types of surfaces.
Disadvantages:
does not tolerate sun exposure (it is necessary to cover the frozen foam with paint to protect it from ultraviolet radiation, otherwise it will darken and crack over time).
MAXFORTE SoundFlex
Our rating included the new generation MAXFORTE SoundFlex polyurethane foam, which is specially designed for sound insulation of window and door assembly joints, elastic filling of expansion joints in building structures, crevices and voids. It has a high density and low expansion. SoundFlex foam has an increased level of elasticity and the ability to stretch and regain its original shape after compression. The product provides a significant reduction in vibration loads between building structures and becomes a damping layer that dampens vibrations. Average price 590 rubles.
Soundproof foam Maxforte SoundFlex
Advantages:
The foam takes on its original shape at any compression ratio (up to 75%);
Increased elasticity without damaging the structure;
High product density;
Polyurethane foam with a very high degree of adhesion to building materials such as concrete, wood, metal and artificial surfaces;
First-class vibroacoustic properties: vibration reduction up to 90%;
Application temperature from -10 ° C to + 35 ° C;
Sound insulation of joints 65 dB (joint 10 mm).
Disadvantages:
Poorly tolerates exposure to ultraviolet rays.
Penosil
Another brand whose popularity is gaining momentum. The polyurethane foam of this company has a lot of positive reviews, it is chosen by beginners and professionals, and praised by those who are engaged in home repair and construction. The sealant is characterized by its density and uniformity of composition, shows a high volume of recovery, and the secondary expansion is reduced to a possible minimum. Reliable, suitable for the installation of serious structures, perfectly fills cavities, gaps and seams. Since the composition does not have any smell, it is comfortable and pleasant to work with. There is also a special type of this foam sealant, which is a cross between polyurethane foam and glue. The average cost is 220 rubles.
polyurethane foam Penosil
Advantages:
reliability and high quality;
there is no shrinkage when the material solidifies;
large output volume;
has a white tint;
ideal for interior renovations.
Disadvantages:
not very well suited for outdoor work;
poorly tolerates temperatures below -5 degrees;
in case of heat (from +35 degrees and above), the sealant does not foam, flows down the surface.
A very popular polyurethane foam, which earned the first place in the number of positive reviews, professional repairmen and builders. Differs in high efficiency and quality. Produced in two types - winter version, and with increased fire resistance. The structure of the composition is dense, fine, retains volume, shrinkage during solidification does not occur, as well as secondary expansion. Thanks to such useful properties, the sealant shows itself perfectly when installing windows and doors, repairing heating and water supply systems, performing work on thermal insulation. The average cost is 230 rubles.
polyurethane foam Titan O2
[box type = "tick" style = "rounded"] Advantages:
the composition of the polyurethane foam does not contain toxic ingredients;
the sealant has good adhesion to all building materials;
perfect for interior work;
with this polyurethane foam it is possible to install pipes.
Disadvantages:
does not tolerate exposure to ultraviolet rays;
when used for outdoor use, it shows fragility.
What kind of polyurethane foam did you like?
Soudal 32%, 55 of votes
55 of votes32%
55 votes - 32% of all votes
Titan o2 27%, 47 of votes
47 of votes27%
47 votes - 27% of all votes
Penosil 22%, 39 of votes
39 of votes22%
39 votes - 22% of all votes
Makroflex 16%, 28 of votes
28 of votes16%
28 votes - 16% of all votes
Moment Installation 3%, 5 of votes
5 of votes3%
5 votes - 3% of all votes
Total Votes: 174
19.03.2018
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Popular manufacturing companies
Despite the variety of products offered on the market, there are not so many manufacturers of truly high-quality polyurethane foam. Unfortunately, there are many more companies that produce low-quality sealants without the use of technological knowledge and equipment that meets modern standards.
High popularity
Soudal has factories in countries such as Belgium, Slovenia, Poland. The polyurethane foam of this company has a good structure, output volume, is durable, does not darken and does not crack over time.
The Estonian manufacturing company Krimelte (products of the Penosil trademark) - a good price-quality ratio, as well as a variety of sealant options for different occasions.
TITAN trademark - from the manufacturer Orion (Spain, Turkey, Poland). The products of this company foam well, do not have secondary expansion, but after a year they begin to deteriorate.
Average popularity
Moment installation - inexpensive and high-quality products with low toxicity.
Ultima - has an affordable price, easy to use, but at the same time has a low level of economy.
Axton is odorless, hardens quickly, but has poor adhesion and high porosity.
Polyurethane foam with low popularity
Makroflex (from the Estonian company Henkel) is inexpensive, quickly solidifies, but the foam consumption is uneconomical, the composition does not tolerate ultraviolet light, and also has a high level of expansion.
Greflex - does a good job of sealing, but the composition often has additional unwanted impurities.
Boxer is a low-cost construction foam for home renovation, not suitable for outdoor use.
Applications of polyurethane foam
So, the use of polyurethane foam, as already seen, is quite wide, these are:
insulation and sealing;
insulation of premises (sealing cavities and cracks with foam);
sealing cracks in the roof;
filling cavities around various structures, door frames, window openings, as well as fixing window and door blocks;
filling voids and cracks in bends or joints, as well as around water and heating pipes;
gluing insulation, insulation and other materials to walls;
sound insulation (including treatment of bathtubs to avoid unnecessary noise during use);
repair of boats (filling holes and cracks).
The modern market offers a wide variety of polyurethane foam, differing in scope and conditions of use. It is best to opt for the highest quality material that will not only provide comfort while working, but also guarantee reliability and durability.