Spray foam insulation is a great way to add value to your home or business. It’s easy to use and fills in holes and cracks where air leaks can cause energy waste. But what exactly is spray foam insulation made of? Insulation in Blaine MN
Polyol Resin and Isocyanate
Spray foam insulation is a product that combines two liquids: polyol resin and isocyanate. The polyol resin is the liquid that is combined with the isocyanate. Polyols are composed of simple carbon-based molecules and are manufactured from natural gas or petroleum byproducts. Isocyanates are organic compounds made from crude oil derivatives, which can cause respiratory distress if inhaled in large amounts.
How Does Polyol and Isocyanate Work?
Isocyanate is produced by combining crude oil derivatives. The reaction vessel is heated and cooled several times, then heated again.
Polyol resin is produced using natural gas or petroleum. It’s a polyester resin, which means it’s a type of polymer. Polymers are long chains of small molecules that can be manipulated to create different textures and properties. Think of how plastic bags come in all sorts of shapes, sizes, and colors—that’s because they’re all made with polymers!
Polyols are used to make polyurethane foam insulation because they provide the elasticity needed for an effective insulator. The polyol will react with water when mixed with other ingredients such as blowing agents to form foam bubbles that fill any gaps between materials like wood studs in your walls and ceiling joists in your attic insulation project.
Spray Foam Expansion
Spray foam insulation can be as thin as a quarter-inch, but it can expand to as much as 100 times that size. That’s because the polyurethane in spray foam insulation is mixed with either water or isocyanates, which are compressed into a gas by the aerosol and become part of the expanding foam.
The two chemicals start to expand and harden when they’re mixed during the spray foam application process. The chemical reaction that happens when these two components are introduced to each other is called polymerization, which means the chemicals (polymers) will begin to form a solid material. The spray gun has what’s called a mixing chamber where both chemicals are combined before being sprayed onto your home’s surface.
The main ingredients in spray foam insulation are usually petroleum-based products like polyurethane or polyisocyanurate; however, natural alternatives such as soybean oil have also become more popular in recent years because they have lower VOC emissions than traditional formulations do.2
Spray foam insulation is a great option for homeowners. Not only is it easy to install, but it also helps keep your home healthy and energy-efficient. If you’re still unclear about what spray foam insulation is made of or how it works, hopefully, this article has cleared things up! We know that there are many different types of insulation on the market today, so if you’re still unsure which one’s right for your home, please feel free to contact us. Our team at Spray Foam Insulation Plus in Blaine, Minnesota are happy to help.
Insulation in Blaine MN
Insulation in Blaine MN
Insulation in Blaine MN
