One of the materials widely used in construction area, polyurethane foam protrudes.

Among the main areas of its application should be highlighted:

• insulation of refrigerating chambers;
• insulation of residential premises;
• thermal insulation of commercial buildings;
• thermal insulation of pipelines.

Polyurethane foam has many advantages, which determines its widespread use: it is a lightweight and durable material with increased adhesion to many materials. How much polyurethane foam is harmful to health, with all its other advantages, we will consider in the article.

Receiving material

It is obtained from components in a liquid state, their dosage and mixing are not particularly difficult. Based on this, the material is produced on industrial enterprises, also at the place of its use.

The foaming and curing process takes place instantly: it does not take even a few minutes for the product to be ready for use.

Indoor use of polyurethane foam: how justified is it?

Is polyurethane foam harmful? This question began to be asked by builders and those citizens who want to build Vacation home or commercial space to live or work in. Material sales increased several times in recent times... First of all, this is due to the affordable pricing policy.

Due to its fame, polyurethane foam and everything related to it have been overgrown with speculation and legends. First of all, they are associated with the harmfulness of polyurethane foam to the health of citizens.

Disadvantages of polyurethane foam affecting human health

• It is believed that the material is not suitable for residential use due to its flammability. During a fire, it is capable of emitting poisonous gases that are harmful to health.
• Under the influence ultraviolet rays the insulation decomposes into products of monomeric properties, which will negatively affect the health of the person living in the house.
• The material does not have sufficient resistance to moisture, which causes the release of harmful vapors from the material. Regular poisoning with these vapors leads to pathologies in the work of the human body. In particular, this is due to the work of the immune and cardiovascular systems.

The unique thermal conductivity of polyurethane foam: how true is that?

Manufacturers say that the material has low thermal conductivity. In practice, over time (after about 10 years), the thermal conductivity of the material increases and the owners will need more heating for the living space. And in this sense, there is no need to talk about savings.

The lack of truthfulness in the description and properties of the goods can lead to a depressed state of buyers, which can also negatively affect people's health.

Are there any new developments in insulation that are not capable of harming people?

Currently, manufacturers claim that the use of the material excludes the inclusion of various ether fractions in its composition.

In particular the new modern material, which is distinguished by quality and environmental safety, does not contain:

• asbestos;
• freon;
• ethereal fractions of highly volatile composition;
• formaldehyde.

If we consider high-quality insulation, then the harm of polyurethane foam to humans will not only be minimized: it simply does not exist. After work on spraying insulation, no harmful substances are found in the room. A quality material, which meets all safety requirements, is used more and more often in various buildings: industrial, administrative and residential.

Modern construction market ready to offer its consumers both materials that have long-term use and a stable reputation, and whole list polymers that came to the market not so long ago and are still only gaining recognition from buyers. It is to this group that polyurethane foam belongs.

What is polyurethane foam?

This modern construction material experts refer to the group of gas-filled plastics. consists of more than 85% inert gas phase. The scope of this material is wide and varied. However, fierce controversy over whether polyurethane foam is harmful to health has not subsided for many years. The most discussed from this point of view are the issues of the behavior of the material during combustion and the release of toxic components when heated.

History of the appearance of the material

The date of birth of polyurethane foam can be safely called 1937, when a small group of scientists from the laboratory in Leuvenkusen synthesized a material with unusual properties. Depending on the mixing ratio of the components of the new material and how quickly the reaction proceeded, the properties of the polyurethane foam were radically different. On the one hand, the material was elastic and flexible, but rather fragile to breaking loads. On the other hand - strength, hardness, density, but fragility when bending. The material had extremely broad perspectives, but the Second World War significantly slowed down their execution. However, starting from the 60s of the last century, the manufacture of PU foam began to develop at a rapid pace.

Component composition of PPU

The main components that make up the polyurethane foam and are necessary for the formation and attachment of polymer chains are polyol (component A) and polyisocyanate (component B). Sometimes domestic manufacturers another component, a catalyst, can be added to the polyol. The main components of polyurethane foam have a specific smell and are a liquid of a fairly thick consistency with shades from light yellow to dark brown.

During long-term storage, polyol tends to exfoliate, therefore it is recommended to stir it before use. Polyisocyanate interacts with water - crystallization begins on contact. When stored for a long time outdoors a film forms on the surface of the material. In their own way component composition PPU can be of two types - for spraying and for pouring.

Biogenic properties

Polyols and polyisocyanates used for the production of PU foam are petroleum products. However, it is known that the components of polyurethane foam can be produced from vegetable oils. The best option for this purpose - castor oil. The polyol component can also be obtained from sunflower, soy, and rapeseed oils. However, the cost of this raw material is quite high and production is not economically feasible. Biogenic polyurethane foam materials are produced in small volumes and are used to solve very narrow specific problems.

PPU properties

Polyurethane foam produced by domestic and foreign manufacturers has a number of both positive and negative characteristics.

Low (0.019 - 0.03 W / m), almost complete vapor permeability, water resistance make polyurethane foam an excellent heat and gas insulator. The same can be said for soundproofing. The high coefficient of adhesion makes it possible to apply polyurethane foam to almost any surface.

However, not only positive qualities characterized by polyurethane foam. Harm to human health can be caused during the combustion of polyurethane foam (in the presence of a direct fire source, the material burns). In addition, polyurethane foam releases toxic substances into the atmosphere - formaldehydes. Polyurethane foam, the components of which come into contact with air and to the influence of sunlight. Over time, it darkens and falls off.

Scope of PPU

This modern building polymer has found wide application in various areas of human life. Its widest field of application is in construction: thermal insulation, acoustic and waterproofing of civil and industrial facilities any purpose (residential, country houses, workshops, warehouses, hangars, etc.). Due to the low thermal conductivity, polyurethane foam is used for insulating not only roofs, but also walls, both inside and outside buildings. Polyurethane foam sandwich panels are indispensable in the construction of pre-fabricated construction projects.

PU foam with a density of 30-86 kg / m³ (rigid polyurethane foams) are used as noise and thermal insulation material... Material with a density of 70 kg / m³ has a dense structure, does not allow water to pass through and is successfully used for waterproofing works.

In the production of refrigeration equipment, PPU is used as a cold insulator. The shoe industry uses the material to make various elements shoes and instep supports.

However, there are areas where the benefits of using a material such as polyurethane foam are very questionable. Health damage can be caused by linings and fillers for upholstered furniture, mattresses, pillows, etc. (polyurethane foam with a density of 5-40 g / m³ - soft foam blocks). Although PU foam manufacturers claim that the material is environmentally and biologically neutral, using it as a filler for children's toys can also make parents think about the health of their children.

Sleep in the arms of PPU ...

It's about bedding items such as polyurethane foam mattresses. The harm, and quite serious, can be caused by inhalation of vapors of complex volatile chemical compounds (about 30 types), the most dangerous of which are phenol and 2-ethylhexanoic acid. Moreover, new mattresses filled with polyurethane foam emit 5-6 times more hazardous substances into the atmosphere than old ones. The vapor concentration of these substances is comparable to emissions from new laminate flooring.

Assurances in the safety of mattresses filled with polyurethane foam are questionable for the simple reason that resins, catalysts, solvents, active chemical components (phenol!) Are used at the stage of their manufacture.

Is phenol a big threat?

Phenol is considered a toxic substance because it emits toxic fumes, and this process can last for years without reducing or losing toxicity. This chemical element can cause disruption of the activity of the most important systems of the human body: respiratory, nervous, cardiovascular. The consequence can be headaches, loss of consciousness, impaired coordination of movements. The functioning of the kidneys and liver can also be impaired. Constant contact with phenol and its fumes can cause the appearance of such formidable diseases as asthma, infectious pulmonary pathologies, and allergies.

According to scientists engaged in research in this area, the use of polyurethane foam for the manufacture of children's furniture, mattresses, toys is unreasonable. PU foam may well be replaced by safer materials. If parents are concerned about the health of their children, they need to be very careful about choosing toys and mattresses for them, in which polyurethane foam can be used as a filler. The bulk of civilized countries have banned the manufacture of everyday goods.

What else is harmful?

Products made of polyurethane foam are widely used in many areas of human life. and foam board based on polyurethane foam have a negative effect on the lungs, skin, eyes. Insulation boards made of polyurethane foam release toxic polyisozoanate compounds into the air that can cause allergies or asthma. When heating polyurethane foam boards heating batteries or by sunlight, the release of polyisocyanate is enhanced.

In the event of a fire, PPU burns and emits toxic gases, which is additional source dangers and threats to life. However, it is worth noting that recently more and more non-combustible types of polyurethane foam are used, obtained by introducing special additives into their composition. Such polyurethane foam practically does not harm health.

So where is the truth?

Polyurethane foam - what is it? Is it harm or benefit? A huge number of places where polyurethane foam is used in different areas human life does not allow to give an unambiguous answer to this question. For the construction industries, this is undoubtedly a benefit, and a huge one. The ability to make a mixture and apply polyurethane foam to the surface to be insulated directly on construction site reduces associated costs and allows you to create a monolithic polyurethane foam surface without cracks during installation. Thermal insulation of main low-temperature pipelines in the chemical industry is also currently hardly possible with the same efficiency that polyurethane foam provides.

However, the use of this material in the production of goods for people (and for children in particular) is seen by many specialists in this field as not entirely justified. The release of toxic substances can cause Negative influence on human health. Even before 2003, the technology for the manufacture of domestic components for the production of polyurethane foam provided for the use of highly volatile ether compounds. Today, manufacturers claim that this technology has been abandoned. Within 3 days after application, the material is freed from a small amount of gases remaining after the reaction of the components, and after that the polyurethane foam is environmentally friendly.

In general, in each specific case, before using products from polyurethane foam, it is necessary to sensibly assess all the pros and cons of using this material in a particular area of ​​life.

Polyurethane foam, otherwise - foam mattress, is still quite common. At first glance, it seems that the foam is dense enough and is quite suitable for sleeping on it. However, experts are of the opposite opinion and do not recommend mattresses with polyurethane foam filling for sleeping.

Polyurethane foam, foam rubber or PP, what is it? - let's figure it out. The material was invented in 1937 by a group of German scientists. The rapid growth in consumption of polyurethane foam among the population began in the 60s of the last century.

It is possible to speak about the benefits or harms of PPU only by studying its properties. The material with a foam structure is of artificial origin, which already initially speaks not in its favor. The chemical components that make up its composition do not like moisture, do not like open sunlight - under their influence, the foam rubber is destroyed.

O positive properties PPU say a lot:

• not flammable;
• does not lose its shape (it quickly restores under mechanical action);
• It has high level vapor and water permeability, due to which it is used as a moisture and heat insulating material.

In addition, foam rubber is very cheap, so it is often used as a filler for mattresses. By itself, the foam rubber is very light due to its soft, porous structure; it can be easily bent, twisted to transport.

However, it is too early to fall into euphoria, because PUF contains active chemical components, among which the most dangerous is phenol. In addition, it contains resins, catalysts, and solvents. During combustion (and foam rubber burns in the presence of a direct fire source) toxic components - formaldehydes - are released into the air.

The most dangerous component of polyurethane foam is phenol. Dangerous fumes can last for years, and fumes from new material are more dangerous. Phenol has a destructive effect on critical systems human body: cardiovascular, nervous, respiratory. That is why it is worth thinking 100 times before giving your child a toy stuffed with foam rubber or placing him on a foam mattress.

Phenol vapors can cause serious health problems:

• allergic reactions;
• pulmonary pathologies.

Dangerous consequences of harmful fumes are frequent headaches, loss of coordination of movements up to loss of consciousness, possibly impaired liver and kidney function.

When using polyurethane foam as a basis for a mattress, up to 30 volatile chemical compounds are released into the air, and phenol is not the only one that can harm a person.

Orthopedists insist that you need to sleep on a sufficiently rigid base so that the spine is in an even position during sleep. Such a state of his can provide orthopedic mattresses with coconut coir filler, independent spring blocks.

If you press down on the thick foam rubber and release your hand, it seems that it is quite dense and tough. However, under the weight of the body, the foam rubber easily bends and the spine is in the wrong, bent position during sleep, which will eventually lead to its curvature. If you sleep on foam mattress, this can lead to dangerous degenerative changes.

Yes, sleeping on it may seem comfortable, soft, but in the morning you will be met headache, numbness of the limbs, tingling in the muscles. This is due to the foam mattress.

A mattress with a polyurethane foam filling is especially dangerous for children's health, an unformed spine of a crumb. Hazardous substances from the mattress are inhaled by the child, causing chronic illness respiratory system, therefore, you should not buy a sofa or a mattress for a child with foam filling.

Today, polyurethane has firmly entered our daily life. It is often used to replace products made of rubber, steel and other materials. In construction, polyurethane is widely used for thermal insulation of buildings. Also, this material is often used in various industries, including light, footwear, furniture, etc. In particular, a filler for mattresses, armchairs, car seats and much more is made of polyurethane.

Refers to a group of synthetic polymers that are obtained from high molecular weight alcohols (polyols) and polyisocyanates. In addition, various dyes and additives are added to the material during the production process. Therefore, for a long time, experts have been arguing whether polyurethane is harmful or not for human health. To understand this issue, you should consider its composition in more detail.

What substances are included in polyurethane

The main components of this material are poisocyanates, polyols, flame retardants, amine and other catalysts. All these substances at the stage of material manufacture can pose a hazard to human health. Therefore, all personnel working with polypropylene must observe safety precautions when working with potentially hazardous substances and also apply individual means protection (gloves, respirators, etc.).
Finished polyurethane products do not emit into the environment harmful substances and do not pose a danger to human health. In addition, polyurethane has a number of positive qualities that determine its wide application as a structural, heat and electrical insulating material.

However, the material has a significant drawback - when heated, polyurethane begins to release phenol and formaldehyde derivatives into the atmosphere, which have a negative effect on the respiratory system and harm health. Long-term inhalation of such vapors can lead to the development of symptoms of chronic poisoning (headache, vomiting, spasms, etc.). It should be noted here that for such processes to occur in polyurethane, it must be heated to a temperature above 100 ° C. Thus, subject to the rules of operation polyurethane products the risk of the release of toxic substances into the environment is practically zero.

Polyurethane in everyday life - harmful or not

For domestic purposes, polyurethane is used to insulate living quarters, as well as a filler for mattresses and upholstered furniture. In this case, foam is used, which after completely dry does not pose a danger to human health.

However, polyurethane is still classified as potentially hazardous materials, since with it misuse toxic fumes may be released into the environment. So, if the thermal insulation coating did not have time to completely dry or violations were made during its installation, then phenol-formaldehyde derivatives will be released into the living space, which can lead to the development of symptoms of chronic poisoning and residents.
In general, fully cured polyurethane foam does not pose a health hazard. Therefore, manufacturers often classify polyurethane as environmentally friendly materials.

Thus, we can conclude that, subject to all the rules of operation, polyurethane products do not pose a danger and harm to human health. However, experts do not recommend using polyurethane products in a nursery, as they can cause allergic reactions, headaches and other symptoms in children.

Per last decade The number of use of polyurethane foam for various thermal insulation in our country has grown more than not once or twice, but as much as five times! It is worth pondering over this.

At the very peak of the popularity of this wonderful thermal insulation material, a large number of different myths began to appear regarding the environmental friendliness and safety of sprayed PU foam insulation, both for human health and for environment.

In order to understand everything, namely how safe and environmentally friendly this heat-insulating material is, first of all you need to know what the polyurethane foam itself is and what it consists of. And so everything is in order.

This material is similar in structure to regular soap foam, as it consists of insulated cells that contain gas. Difference Compared to soap suds the fact that the cells of a given material are of the same size. The gas itself accounts for almost ninety-five percent of the total volume of polyurethane foam, and it is a heat insulator. And the remaining five percent is nothing more than a solid polymer.

V initial methods for the manufacture of polyurethane foam, freon was used, but according to the new laws, it is strictly forbidden to import it into our country and at this time in the manufacture of this heat insulator they are used, without any exception, absolutely environmentally clean materials such as soybeans, water, various vegetable oils... Because of this, it is very often called environmentally friendly thermal insulation, not harmful to human health and the environment.
Perhaps you are asking the question: "Does polyurethane foam emit any harmful, toxic substances for our health and the environment?" And we will also give a clear explanation to this question.

Is polyurethane foam harmful?

Among the many different thermal insulation materials, polyurethane foam deservedly takes one of the leading places. However, even rock wool, which is considered to be fundamentally safe, emits formaldehyde, hazardous to health, which, as you may or may not know, is contained in the adhesive base and helps the mineral wool fibers to maintain their shape. It is also worth adding that polyurethane foam, unlike mineral wool, is not an allergen, therefore mineral wool It is strictly forbidden to use in children's and medical buildings. In such facilities, polyurethane foam is used in most cases. Polyurethane foam itself is non-flammable and non-allergenic. This material has a low thermal conductivity and even with a short-term local ignition, the smoldering process itself is completely excluded.

At this time, the use of various highly volatile ether fractions is completely excluded in the manufacture of polyurethane foam. It does not contain asbestos, freon, formaldehyde and other various harmful to health and the environment chemical products... After the PPU spraying process, no harmful substances are found in the room.

High-quality sprayed thermal insulation with polyurethane foam several times improves the microclimate of the treated room: humidity decreases, air leaks decrease, mold does not form, dust does not pass through. From the above, it follows that high-quality spraying with polyurethane foam contributes to twice the energy savings for heating the room, which leads to the conservation of natural resources and serves as a significant contribution to the environment and nature. These, if I may call it that, are useful and unique properties polyurethane foam make it one of the leaders among the endless variety of different polymers.

Currently, because of their environmentally friendly properties and safety sprayed thermal insulation with polyurethane foam is increasingly used in industrial, residential and administrative buildings. At this point in time, environmental requirements are becoming more stringent and more important, so many experts are sure that thermal insulation by spraying polyurethane foam will still rapidly regain lost ground from those materials that are significantly inferior to it in these parameters.

From this, we can say with great confidence that the future belongs to sprayed thermal insulation! Make your choice together with the UyuTerm company in favor of environmentally friendly, harmless, modern, heat-insulating material - polyurethane foam!