Installation foam, despite the name, is not intended for installation. Its task is to fill and seal the gaps and joints for the purpose of thermo- and sound insulation. We answer questions regarding the choice and application of this material.
Photo: shutterstock / fotodom.ru
Household assembly foams with an applicator tube: Foam Premium (Penosil) Summer (UP. 750 ml - 262 rub.). Photo: Penosil.
Mounting foam is an indispensable element of a plurality of construction work. It is used when installing windows and doors, filling out various openings and holes, for connecting and sealing frame construction structures, fixation of wall panels and roofing slate. Among the main manufacturers of this product of Henkel (Brand Makroflex), BisonInternational, Den Braven, Penosil, ProfFlex (trademarks PROFFLEX, STORM GUN), SOUDAL, SELENA (TYTAN PROFESSIONAL TRADE MARK). The price of the cylinder with the mounting foam depends on its volume, weight, brand popularity and ranges from 100 to 600 rubles. It is worth noting that mounting foams are divided into single and two-component. Since most Pen, presented in our market, one-component, let's talk about them.
Consequence of bad sealing - throughout, sagging, reducing the service life of windows. Proper use of foam gives the necessary heat and noise insulation. Photo: shutterstock / fotodom.ru
What is a mounting foam?
Maxi (PROFFLEX) All-season (UE. 750 ml - 218 rubles.). Photo: PROFFLEX
One-component mounting foam is a polyurethane sealant in aerosol packaging. The base of the foam is a prepolymer (prepolymer), synthesized from polyol and isocyanate. As a result of the polymerization reaction, partly occurring inside the cylinder, and mainly in air, after the outgoing, these substances form polyurethane. Coming out of the cylinder, the prepolymer increases sharply in the amount (20-40 times) and turns into a foam. Expanding, it penetrates in hard-to-reach cavities, fills emptiness. Then the cellular mass is gradually polymerized (harden), absorbing moisture from the air or with a pre-dipped surface. After a day, it becomes a chemically stable substance - polyurethane. It is non-toxic, not destroyed for a long time, resistant to moisture. This rather rigid finely puffy material consists of closed cells and serves as a good insulator.
What is the household foam differs from professional?
TYTAN PROFESSIONAL STD (Selena) Summer (UP. 750 ml - 315 rub.). Photo: Selena
Calon with household foam is equipped with a special apple tube. Due to this device, an additional tool is not required to exit a viscous mixture. Household foams are usually disposable products. The mass yield is difficult to dose, and she herself is characterized by a large density and low polymerization rate. Professional foams are intended for repeated use and better sealing. In them, the feed and dosing of the foam jet occurs with the help of a plunger pistol. He is touched on a special ring on the cylinder. It is a professional foam to give preference when installing doors and windows.
At what temperature can be used foam?
Soft Foam Purifiers: PU Foam Cleaner Click (Soudal) (UE. 500 ml - 257 rub.). Photo: Soudal
Depending on the operating temperature range, mounting foams are divided by summer, winter, all-season. For the first range of permissible temperatures is in the zone of positive values: from 5 to 30 ˚C. Winter and all-season foams are used in a wider range: from -10 ° C (some from -25 ° C) to 30 ° C. It is worth considering the tip of the manufacturer on the balloon temperature. In the cold season at low humidity, the flow of chemical reactions slows down, the viscosity of the mixture increases, and the pressure in the cells of the foam mass decreases. Many manufacturers for normal operation of winter foam advise to warm the balloon to room temperature (23 ° C), withsting it in a residential room for about a day or immersing it in warm water (about 30 ° C). However, there are products for which the use of a cold cylinder is permissible.
The winter pen includes components that help better adsorb moisture from the environment and maintain the desired consistency at low temperatures. Winter foams can be used in a cold and warm season without deteriorating property properties. Photo: shutterstock / fotodom.ru
Why do you need to shake a cylinder with mounting foam?
Eco Tytan Professional (Selena) (UE. 500 ml - 235 rub.). Photo: Selena
In the cylinder with the mounting foam there are several components of different density. With a long stationary storage, they can host the layers. Therefore, before the start of the process, the cylinder should be vigorously shaken for half a minute so that the components are mixed. In addition, periodically shake it during use and especially after smoking. Insufficient shakes can lead to the formation of a large-scale foam structure and its reduced volume. During operation, the balloon hold up the bottom. In this position, gas-propellant falls below the polymer mass and provides maximum content use.
The surfaces on which the mounting foam is applied must be carefully disturbed, purified from dirt, oils, fats and ice. Photo: shutterstock / fotodom.ru
How many foam is needed to fill the cavities?
Cleaner for solid foam: Tytan Professional (Selena) (UP. 100 ml - 379 rubles). Photo: Selena
In order to prevent deformation of insufficiently strong walls in the process of expanding the foaming mass, it is recommended to fill out emptiness and foam slots for no more than a third. When installing interior doors, it is desirable to use several struts for fixing the box. Then the foam increasing in the volume will not be able to deform it. However, with the right professional dosage of foam to do this optional.
The volume of finished foam depends on the capacity of the cylinder and its filling, air temperature and cylinder, air humidity, from the quality of the pistol and the qualification of the wizard. High-performance foams are given from 65 liters and more, and ordinary - 25-45 liters.
Will it moisten the surface before applying foam?
The relative humidity of the air is more than 50% sufficient for the normal polymerization process of foam. In such conditions, it is not necessary to moisturize the surface. However, at low humidity (less than 50%), which is characteristic of the cold season and hot summer days, moisturizing the seams and cavities will increase adhesion and improve the frozen of the foam. This should be done without fanaticism, so that the surface does not have drops and water did not accumulate, otherwise its excess will prevent the foam compound with the surface.
The construction gun must be cleaned from the foam immediately after removing the empty cylinder, preventing the mass of the mass inside the pistol. Photo: shutterstock / fotodom.ru
When can I cut the excess foam?
At the time of polymerization of the mounting foam, the ambient temperature, the balloon itself and the size of the cavity affect. On average, professional foam in a width of 30 mm width is frozen in 20-30 minutes, and the household is slightly slower - for 40-60 minutes. The process of expansion is completed after a day, and then you can proceed to the removal of solid mass.
Vertical gaps are filled with mounting foam, moving upwards. Photo: shutterstock / fotodom.ru
The hardened foam is neatly cut off with a sharp knife. Photo: shutterstock / fotodom.ru
Cleaners of mounting foam
Winter professional assembly foams: Makroflex Premium Mega 70 (Henkel) (UE. 870 ml - 390 rubles). Photo: Henkel
The mounting foam remaining after the mechanical cleaning of the pistol, the cylinder (valve and directly the balloon itself outside), clothes and other surfaces, easy to remove with a special aerosol cleaner. Produce cleaners of two types:
- for soft foam;
- For hardened foam.
All of them contain strong solvents. Therefore, before use, it is desirable to check the action of the aerosol on the hidden section of the surface of the surface.
How to store and use a cylinder with foam secondary?
Soudafoam Maxi 70 (Soudal) (UE. 870 ml - 336 rubles.). Photo: Soudal
It is possible to interrupt work with the household mounting foam, the balloon is equipped with a tube applicator, you can only for a short time, not more than half an hour. The mixture dries quickly in air and is able to block the exit of the remaining foam. When using professional foam, manufacturers recommend not to remove the gun from the cylinder until all the contents end in it. At the time of storage, the pistol trigger mechanism is blocked by a dosing screw.
In such a state, the balloon with a gun can be kept 1-2 weeks. But its long-term destruction in warm and wet conditions significantly reduces the shelf life of the mounting foam. But the dry and cool room is ideal for storing the cylinder. Moreover, it is installed vertically, the valve up, since the horizontal position leads to a valve fault.
Do I need to protect foam from sunlight?
TYTAN PROFESSIONAL ICE 65 (Selena) (UE. 870 ml - 340 rubles). Photo: Selena
Installation foams are very sensitive to UV rays. The hardened mass under the influence of sunshine darkens and crumbs. The foam is sure to protect against light by plaster, panels, etc. In addition, the frozen mass is poorly tolerates the temperature of more than 110 ° C, the effects of alkalis, acids and connections applied to remove foam residues.
Glue-foam
Goldgun 65 (Penosil) (UP. 875 ml - 345 rubles). Photo: Penosil.
The scope of application of the mounting foam expands. Many manufacturers, including Technonol Corporation, Henkel, Selena, offer glue-foams for fixing thermal insulation plates from foam, extruded and extruded polystyrene foam, with a device of external and internal heat insulation systems on concrete surfaces, bricks, plastered and others. , glue-foams are used in the erection of walls and partitions from aerated concrete, ceramic and other blocks. Unlike conventional foam, glue is characterized by a higher adhesion and low extension.
Professional mounting foams: All-season Construction 70 (Penosil), use temperature from -10 to 30 ° C (UE. 870 ml - 336 rubles.). Photo: Penosil.
Summer Soudafoam Professional 60 (Soudal) (UE. 750 ml - 390 rubles.). Photo: Soudal
Summer Tytan Professional Gun (Selena) (UP. 750 ml - 343 rubles). Photo: Selena