How is closed cell foam made

Closed cell spray foam insulation can help prevent moisture and condensation throughout the area where it is installed. Closed cell spray foam insulation creates an air seal, but there are a lot more benefits to the material than just that.

There are two types of spray foam insulation offered here at RetroFoam of Michigan — closed and open cell spray foam. Some contractors only offer either open or closed cell foam, as they are both effective air barriers and insulators.

Either type may be better than the other for different applications, but it's always good to have options. They also have organic chemical compounds derived from petroleum extracts. Spray foam insulation is made when:.

In most cases, RetroFoam of Michigan only installs closed cell spray foam insulation in pole barn walls that are left exposed, commercial buildings, and vans.

There are rare instances where closed cell is the better option for certain areas of the home. If the closed cell is installed in an existing structure where there is already traditional insulation, the fiberglass and cellulose will need to be removed first. In the case of a new build structure, pole barn, or commercial structure.

On the day of the installation, there is going to be some prep work that needs to be done before the foam is sprayed. Anything in the area where the foam is supposed to be sprayed will need to be moved out or covered in plastic.

The flooring, windows, doors, and other surfaces are also covered to ensure the foam doesn't get on them. Once all of the prep work is done, crews will run a hose to the area to be insulated. They will then suit up and begin spraying the areas.

When they are finished, the crews clean up so that it looks just like it did before the work began. Homeowners do have concerns about off-gassing and VOCs when it comes to closed cell spray foam.

This all really comes down to the quality of the spray foam that is used. For example, the closed cell spray foam we install has low VOCs, or volatile organic compounds, meaning it does off-gas but not in large amounts.

The re-occupancy time is also only around 2 hours, instead of the 24 hours some spray foams require. Many homeowners are looking to make their homes more energy-efficient and perform year-round without straining the household budget.

Similar to the holes inside a sponge, air can permeate the open cells more easily, making open cell foam more porous and absorbent than closed cell foam. Closed cell foam is a better air barrier than open cell foam, and can be used to control airflow as it is less permeable.

For example, closed cell foam could be an effective gasket or seal for climate-control by keeping hot outside air from entering an air conditioned enclosure. Open cell foam is more effective for filtration than closed cell foam because it allows air to pass through it. For instance, open cell foam makes a suitable air filter for an engine because it can capture dust and pollutants but not restrict air flow.

When it comes to preventing water vapor from passing through, closed cell is more useful than open cell foam. Closed cell foam is more impermeable to water, vapor, and air. Therefore, it is less likely to be structurally impacted by the effects associated with water damage: mold, mildew, rot, and bacteria. Open cell foam has a higher possibility of absorbing water than closed cell foam, which can lead to degraded performance, especially for thermal applications.

While engineers do not necessarily strive for perfect vapor impermeability, the free flow of water can be detrimental to a structure and can trap water. For example, closed cell foam would be better suited for wrapping a water tank than open cell foam. Both open and closed cell foam are efficient thermal insulators.

Depending on the application and environmental factors, however, one type of foam might perform better than the other, especially if the environment is moist. For example, open cell foam might not perform optimally for thermal applications in moist or humid environments: a wet sponge will not retain or deflect heat effectively as water is a poor insulator in comparison to air.

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The cookies collect information in an anonymous form, including the number of visitors to the site, where visitors have come to the site from and the pages they visited. Closed cell foam is suitable for exposed use indoors and outdoors; open cell foam should only be used outdoors if covered as foam is damaged by UV, CO2 and takes on water.

Closed cell foam is available in a multitude of additives i. EVA , fire retardancy , etc. Closed cell foam is readily available in a wide range of colours; only very limited ranges of coloured open cell foam offer this. Open cell foam is very vulnerable to surface damage; closed cell foam is very robust. The ASP. Is a cookie put onto the system by the whoson client we install. These cookies are used to collect information about how visitors use our site.