What is Polyurethane Foam Insulation?
"Polyurethane is a polymer composed of organic units joined by carbamate (urethane) links."
Polyurethane is used in many household items from the stuffing in some pillows, the wheels on your skateboard to the Spandex worn in sports clothes. It is also used extensively in the insulation business mainly used in the form or insulated slabs or boards.
Orgainice polymers that are used to make foam insulation are specifically designed with their end use in mind. To create polyurethane foam in sprayable form, the polymer reacts with isocyanide at the top of the spray gun and forms the insulation material in an exothermic reaction.
This is the process inside the spray gun.
The polymer used to insulate a shed will, when applied create a dense rigid coating while the polymer used to insulate your attic will expand and form a spongy material that allows it to 'breathe'.
What are the types of Polyurethane foam?
There are 2 main types of Polyurethane foam used in insulation, open cell spray foam and closed cell spray foam.