Liquid foam: description and reviews

Liquid foam plastic is a modern building material, with the help of which insulation of buildings or manufacturing of facing products (sandwich panels) is made. This substance has certain advantages that make it popular. Let us consider in more detail how the liquid polystyrene foam is made from other materials.

What is a substance?

So, such a heater has a liquid consistency, which is why it can be used in any hard-to-reach places. Despite the pasty primary structure of the material, the material rapidly increases in size and solidifies. In this case, all the voids are filled.

Liquid foam plastic is made of expanded polystyrene with the addition of some additional substances that promote long-term storage of the material in a pasty state and change properties during use.

What components are used in production?

In order to manufacture the product, it is necessary to prepare the raw materials. For work you will need:

1. Water (it should be heated to 40 degrees).

2. Frother.

3. A catalyst that promotes solidification of the material.

4. Urea-formaldehyde resin.

It should be noted that the liquid foam is able to cure at a low temperature, which makes its use as convenient as possible.

Properties and advantages of a heater

Now let's look at the merits of the material:

1. A small mass. This parameter allows to apply this insulation even in those buildings that stand on weak grounds. The material does not weight the structure.

2. Ease of use.

3. Low cost and economy.

4. Good sound and heat insulation properties.

5. Resistance to temperature drop.

6. Environmental safety.

7. Resistance to rodents.

8. Non-combustibility.

9. Reducing transportation costs.

10. Liquid foam, reviews about which are more positive, does not rot, does not allow moisture and provides high energy savings in the house.

11. Possibility of application in residential and industrial premises.

11. The use of raw materials in places where it is impossible to mount other types of insulation.

Disadvantages of the material

I must say that the liquid foam, the feedback about which will help you determine whether it is worth using it or not, has some drawbacks. There are not many of them, but they are:

- Unpleasant smell of formaldehyde, which eventually disappears. It should be noted that formaldehyde is an unsafe component for human health, but it evaporates quickly enough, therefore the final material is harmless.

- If you use this insulation on horizontal surfaces, it can shrink to 5%. Naturally, such a result can be if you apply the material without pressure.

Applications

Usually, liquid foam is sold in cylinders, so it is quite easy to deliver it to your destination. In general, this material is used in such cases:

1. For thermal and sound insulation of walls. To do this, you can pour it into the masonry, between the main surface and the cladding material, or apply a tool on the outer surface of the walls.

2. Thermal and sound insulation of the roof and floors. The material can be applied under the floor covering and under the suspended ceiling.

3. Warming with liquid polystyrene foam can be carried out on pipelines.

4. It is used in the production of sandwich panels. This allows not only to insulate the building, but also beautifully to coat it.

5. This material is used in industrial buildings, drying and refrigerating chambers, vegetable stores.

In any case, the substance is mainly used for sound and thermal insulation.

Features of insulation

In order to perform the procedure, you must first clean the surface to be treated. Warming of liquid foam is made under pressure, that is, the material is poured into necessary areas with the help of special equipment. Naturally, after processing it should be dried. Only in this case it will swell and wither well.

It should be noted that fresh foam has a high fluidity and penetrates into the most inaccessible places. In doing so, it well clogs even small holes. At the same time, construction will not need to use heavy building materials, which are large and expensive. Liquid foam in cylinders can solve this problem.

It should be noted that this material can be manufactured right where construction is performed. That is, you can make this substance with your own hands. A small layer of insulation can keep heat, like a very thick brick wall.

Thermal insulation technology

Warming with liquid polystyrene foam, reviews of which are positive and contribute to an increase in the rating of this material, is made according to a specific instruction. That is, it is necessary to follow the sequence of works. The procedure itself is not complicated, but requires the use of special equipment. So, thermal insulation technology assumes such stages:

1. Cleaning of the treated surface from dust and debris.

2. Calculation of the amount of material. In this case, you should consider all those voids that are in the walls, attic or under the floor covering. In principle, the cylinders indicate how many cubic meters of insulation is calculated.

3. Warming with liquid foam is carried out with the help of a special installation that is capable of feeding the material under pressure. That is, you need a foam generator. He perfectly doses all the ingredients. It's enough just to install the necessary program.

4. Properly pouring raw materials. In this case, if there is a gap between the masonry, where the old insulation has already decayed or has lost its functions, then do not disassemble the entire wall. It is enough just to make small holes and pour foam through them. Drill them in different places.

5. Fill the foam from the bottom up in a staggered manner. Filling the void is necessary until the raw material begins to pour out. Do not be afraid that the material will begin to burst. The fact is that its density is very low, so it will not be able to destroy the structure.

Now it is necessary to wait, when the heater will harden. After that, you can make the walls lining. If you produce insulation of houses with liquid foam plastic in the attic, then it is enough to fill the gaps between the beams.

What equipment is needed to make the material?

In order to produce this substance, it is necessary to have suitable machines. That is, you need to buy such equipment:

1. Compressor.

2. Installation for mixing gas and liquid. It will mix all the ingredients.

It must be said that it is quite easy to make liquid foam at home. However, you will need a container in which you will pack the received raw materials. If you want to make a solid insulation, then you will also need forms.

It should be noted that different plants can produce different amounts of material. Therefore, you should buy only the equipment that will produce the necessary mass of raw materials.

Manufacturing technology of insulation

Make a liquid foam with your own hands is easy enough if you have the appropriate equipment and raw materials. First you need to prepare the installation for work. Note that the equipment must be of high quality, and all hose connections are tight. In addition, the wiring must withstand the load.

Next, prepare a frothing agent. To do this, make 2 liters of concentrated solution and dilute it with 48 liters of hot water. For the preparation of foam, orthophosphoric acid requires 85% concentration (half-liter). It should be mixed with water (45 liters). The liquid must be heated to 40 degrees.

Now both solutions can be mixed, that is, you have to combine the prepared foam with 5 liters of foaming agent. After this, the resulting solution is poured into a suitable container.

There is also added a polymer resin, which contributes to the hardening of the foam. To improve the quality of the material, it is necessary to pour in various modifiers. All components are thoroughly mixed in a gas-liquid installation under the influence of compressed air. If you want to reduce the cost of construction, then try to produce a liquid foam plastic with your hands directly on the site of construction. This will allow finishing finishing works and significantly cheaper them.

Naturally, all actions should be performed carefully, observing all necessary safety standards. The fact is that you will deal with acids. Try to wear protective clothing, gloves and a respirator.

Warming of houses with liquid foam makes it possible to cut energy costs several times. In principle, these are all the features of manufacturing liquid foam. Good luck!