Curing time of mounting foam. How long does mounting foam dry: what factors affect the drying time How many days does mounting foam dry

How much the mounting foam dries is influenced by many factors, ranging from the quality and composition of the sealant used, and ending with the temperature and humidity of the environment. All these characteristics must be taken into account for reliable sealing of cracks and openings.

What is the expansion coefficient of a sealant

Which sealant to choose - an analysis of the modern market

The key to a successful repair is the use of the highest quality, reliable building materials. To carry out professional sealing of seams and cracks, choose sealants with the best technical and operational characteristics.

Among all brands on the market polyurethane foam We recommend that you pay attention to the following:

1. 1. Moment Mounting. A justifiably popular brand, presented in almost every hardware store. Differs in uniform density, good adhesion practically to all materials, can be used at external and internal repair work. The disadvantage of the brand is a strong secondary expansion, as a result of which the use of a large amount of foam can lead to deformation of the sealed joints.
2. 2. Makroflex. One of the famous brands. It can be used for work at any time of the year, it adheres well to different surfaces, has a homogeneous structure and is characterized by minimal secondary expansion parameters. The disadvantages include the presence of frank marriage in the market. Cylinders are usually defective, which, after a short operation, begin to produce either one gas or one sealant.
3. 3. soudal. Less well-known brand, under which high-quality sealants are produced. There are foams on the market for work in summer and winter. The winter version can be used even at a temperature of minus 20 degrees. All products under this brand are distinguished by good adhesion, slight secondary expansion and minimal shrinkage. Foams do not tolerate the sun's rays.
4. 4. Penosil. High-quality sealant with a uniform and dense structure. It has almost no secondary expansion and has good output volumes. Especially effective for indoor work. Not suitable for outdoor work. At temperatures below -4 and above +35 it can not be used.
5. 5. TitanO2. It is considered the most popular brand of professional sealants. At a low price, it has excellent performance, good adhesion and a dense structure. Can be used in different conditions.

There is no perfect sealant. Any professional knows that each material has both positive and negative qualities. Therefore, to achieve a good result, the sealant should be carefully selected and used in full accordance with the manufacturer's recommendations.

Polyurethane foam is one of those materials that has recently appeared on our market, but has already gained popularity and widespread use among builders and repairmen.

Indeed, many have already abandoned the use of cement, plaster, mineral wool. In addition to the fact that working with these materials is quite difficult, there is still no guarantee that you will be able to completely close up all the holes and holes. Mounting foam is a truly versatile option.

This product has a number of advantages over other sealants:

• ease of use;
• no additional skills or abilities are required;
• speed of application;
• affordable price;
• ability to penetrate hard-to-reach places;
• safety for human health;
• possessing sound and heat insulation qualities;
• high degree of adhesion to all materials.

Polyurethane foam is used during the installation of windows, doors, when filling holes inside walls, ceilings, sealing holes near pipes. As already noted, mounting foam can be used with metal, glass, wood, concrete, brick, ceramics.

To choose a good foam and carry out effective work, you should know the main characteristics of this substance.

Temperature plays an important role in foam drying time. It is believed that the best option would be a range from +5 to +30 degrees indoors. In addition, the can itself must be heated to a temperature of +10 degrees. Mounting foam dries up precisely when exposed to atmospheric phenomena. Of no small importance is humidity, which also affects the speed and drying time of any mounting foam. If there is not enough moisture, before starting work, moisten the surface to be treated with water using a conventional sprayer. Experiments have shown that the ideal conditions are +20°C and 60-80% humidity. Then the time for complete drying of the mounting foam is approximately 3-5 hours, however, it is rather difficult to achieve such conditions.

Most often, the appearance of the first hard crust occurs after 20-30 minutes, but complete solidification can last for a day. It also depends on the amount of applied material. In any case, the hardening time of the mounting foam is usually written on the packaging. It may vary from manufacturer to manufacturer.

When working with mounting foam, remember the expansion that it has. This substance usually increases in size 2 times: at the first pouring out of the can, with gradual hardening. This fact must be taken into account, since if you do not fix the structure, this can lead to its deformation, because the hardened mounting foam is very strong and hard.

Also, a good foam has a sufficient degree of viscosity, which does not allow it to spread over the surface.

Now many companies produce this product. You should not buy cheap polyurethane foam, otherwise you run the risk of low quality. It is best to use a well-known, reliable brand. Belinka has always produced quality products. In the catalog of this company you can find several types of mounting foam.

BELINKA BELPUR PU FOAM GUN is a wonderful, summer polyurethane foam, when working with it, it is necessary to maintain the air temperature not lower than +5°C. It has a high level of adhesion to all materials, never spreads, does not crumble, and retains its properties for a long time. When working with this type of product, a gun is required. With such equipment, working is much more convenient and faster. The hardening time of this mounting foam ranges from 5 to 12 hours. Polyurethane foam is produced in cylinders only with a volume of 750 ml. This substance perfectly tolerates the effects of water, moisture, chemicals.

In fact, the question "How long does the mounting foam dry?" placed completely wrong! The secret to converting a prepolymer into a strong polyurethane foam is how well it gets wet. It is from moisture that the rate of "drying" of the foam depends. Let's take a closer look.

1 Expansion factor - main parameter

The value of this building material for the most part depends precisely on its ability to expand many times over. Household foam is able to expand up to 60% of its original volume, professional compositions have a much higher coefficient - up to 300%. Moreover, the same foam under different conditions can expand in completely different ways. The prepolymer is affected by temperature, air humidity, type of application, foam exit rate from the can. Yes, and different masters in the same room can have different results. On the packaging, manufacturers indicate the maximum yield of the polymer, but you should not strictly focus on it.

The expansion of the prepolymer during the process of exit from the balloon and solidification is divided into two types: primary and secondary. Primary expansion is called immediately after exiting the cylinder, secondary expansion lasts until the completion of the polymer transformation process. The secondary expansion of high-quality materials reaches 30%, which cannot be ignored when using them. It is usually enough to fill the gap by one third, so that in the end it is completely filled with polyurethane foam.

In addition to expansion, polyurethane foam can also shrink, although for quality products this shrinkage is rarely 5%. If you observe a large shrinkage - alas, you have come across a very low-quality polyurethane. In this case, even a gap in the mass can happen, which in turn will entail a lot of other problems. Each master chooses foam according to his needs. A large expansion is important to someone, in such cases it will do Makroflex, Penosil GoldGun, Moment, Macrosil, when installing windows it is best to use Tytan- it gives optimal expansion and quickly hardens.

2 Characteristics of polyurethane foam - let's look at the details!

This sealant has been used in construction industry relatively recently, however, in this short time, polyurethane foam has almost completely replaced its former competitors. It is applied easily, is inexpensive, serves for many decades, has sound and heat insulating properties. Most often it is used to seal gaps between the doorway and the door frame during its installation, as well as when installing windows.

Expanding, the sealant fills all the voids, reliably "glues" the surfaces together, and when solidified, the polymer fixes the door frame or window. Foam is not afraid of precipitation and cold, it does not pass electricity and is not afraid of mold and fungus. The only drawback is the fear of ultraviolet radiation, however, often the material is applied at the stage of rough work, which is then hidden under a decorative layer of plaster.

Anyone who encounters this material quite often begins to pay attention to such parameters as:

• Porosity of polyurethane foam. The smaller the pores, the better - less plaster consumption and stronger material structure. The more closed pores on the surface, the better the material is - it will reliably retain heat inside the house.
• The volume of mounting foam. We are talking about the volume of the polymer after it hardens. It is important to remember that manufacturers indicate the volume based on standard climatic conditions: plus temperature, high humidity. IN winter time the volume of finished foam from a cylinder of the same company may turn out to be half as much, and the company has nothing to do with it - low temperature and low air humidity are to blame for everything. It should also be remembered that the yield of material from a cylinder used with mounting gun, usually more than with a ready-made adapter, since manufacturers pump more gas into professional cylinders. The fact is that in domestic cylinders very often the gas runs out before the material, and this is money thrown away. Traditionally, cylinders have a capacity of 300 ml, 500 ml and 750 ml. A 300 ml can contains about 30 liters of foam, this is enough to close the gap up to 5 cm between one door frame and doorway. If the gap is larger, it is recommended to reduce the width of the gap with a layer of foam or other similar material in order to save money. The output of foam from a 500 ml container is up to 40 liters, and from a 750 ml container - up to 50 liters. One 750 ml can is enough for two standard door frames.
• material adhesion. The very concept of "adhesion" means the ability of one material to stick together with another. In the case of polyurethane foam, the adhesion of the material is very high to almost any surface, except for cellophane, polyethylene and Teflon. Due to its high adhesion, this sealant is often used as an adhesive, especially when gluing PVC or foam boards. Rest assured, after the binder has completely cured, the panels can only be peeled off with the "meat". High adhesion allows you to close even large gaps by applying the polymer in several layers. However, in such cases, do not skimp on the material - low-quality foam clings worse to the surface, falls down, and more is consumed. In a word, it is cheaper to buy the cylinder that is more expensive.
• Balloon quality. Both the design and quality of the cylinder can affect the final result. Firstly, high-quality products are equipped with reliable valves that easily return to their original position after being pressed, blocking air access and gas outlet. By the way, it is by the cylinders that you can determine what you are dealing with - with quality material or a cheap fake. Take two bottles in the store for comparison - if the contents are of different quality, then you will feel it. The best tank will be heavier, and as you move, you will feel the contents slowly roll from side to side. In a cheap bottle, the prepolymer will hang around like sour yogurt.

How long does mounting foam dry - looking for the exact answer

As you already understood, polyurethane foam is a rather complicated material and has many nuances. As in the case of the expansion coefficient, which depends on many factors, answering the question "How long does the mounting foam harden?" is quite difficult. First of all, it depends on the humidity.

Water is involved in the polymerization process of the prepolymer, in addition, the foam has increased adhesion to wet surfaces, which is why it is recommended to wet the cracks and openings with water before applying the foam.

If the humidity is normal, then 3 hours will be enough to solidify a five-centimeter layer, after which you can cut off the protruding pieces of polyurethane foam and apply plaster. The final polymerization will last much longer - from 7 to 12 hours. If the weather is frosty and dry, then the process can drag on for a day. It is this time that will be the final answer to the question "How long does the polyurethane foam "dry up"". In any case, if time permits, take your time, wait until everything hardens properly.

To speed up the hardening process, periodically spray the material or moisten in any way convenient for you. Remember that polymers are afraid sun rays, therefore, as soon as possible, paint over or plaster the surface that is in contact with ultraviolet radiation. The process of plastering is in many ways similar to.

Polyurethane foam belongs to the group of sealing agents, without which it is impossible to do without during the construction process. It is used in cases where it is necessary to seal seams / joints of more than 3 cm. Often you can stumble upon the question “How long does the mounting foam dry”, but it turns out that it is not quite correctly posed. The fact is that the secret of turning the prepolymer into a strong polyurethane foam lies in the degree of its wetting.

Expansion factor

The main feature of the described building material is its ability to expand several times. If we talk about household foam, then its coefficient of increase in volume reaches 60%, in professional compositions it can be all 300%

Attention! Identical varieties of material can behave very differently, and this is determined by environmental conditions. We are talking about the air temperature, its humidity, the type of application, the speed with which the foam composition leaves the container. Manufacturers always indicate overestimated output volume indicators, but you should not be guided only by them.

Before you figure out how long the mounting foam dries, consider its types. It can be primary, i.e. the prepolymer begins to expand immediately upon application to the surface. As the name implies, the secondary expansion lasts throughout all stages of the transformation of a high-molecular compound. This should always be remembered when using such building materials.

The ability to expand is not the only characteristic. How much mounting foam dries in an apartment sometimes depends on the degree of its shrinkage, which rarely reaches 5%. If this happens, then most likely you are using low-quality materials. Be prepared for the fact that a mass break may even occur. Each master selects for himself the best option, taking into account his needs. If the degree of expansion is in the first place for you, then Macroflex, Moment, GoldGan, Macrosil products are suitable.

Detailed description of the sealant

Interesting! This type of sealant in the construction industry began to be used recently, but despite this, it quickly replaced its competitors.

The advantages of polyurethane foam include:

• easy application;
• affordability;
• durability.

And most importantly, this is that polyurethane foam has sound / heat insulating qualities. Often building materials are used in the process of installing doors, window blocks. Expanding, it completely fills the voids, gluing the work surfaces. How long the mounting foam should dry depends on the thickness of the layer. For example, if it is 5 cm, then it will harden already within 3 hours after leaving the balloon. In solid form, the material is not afraid of precipitation, cold, mold, fungus and even electricity. But the same cannot be said about ultraviolet. But this disadvantage is easily eliminated by applying a layer of decorative plaster.

If you have to choose a sealant, then, in addition to how long the Macroflex mounting foam dries, you should be interested in the following parameters:

How does hardening occur, how long can it last?

At first it was said that water plays a major role in the process of sealant hardening. It is under its influence that the level of adhesion increases, so experts recommend pre-wetting the working surfaces. If you are interested in how much mounting foam dries when installing doors, then keep in mind that this indicator is affected by the thickness of the layer and the air temperature. With optimal performance, completely dried excess pieces of material can be cut off after 3 hours, and proceed with the plaster. As for the final polymerization, it lasts for another 12 hours. In conditions of cold and dry weather, the process can be delayed for an indefinite amount of time. One thing is for sure, that it is possible to proceed to the next stage of work only after the porous mixture has completely solidified.

If you are not satisfied with how long the mounting foam dries when installing windows, you can speed up the process. To do this, periodically spray the sealant (moisten it in any way convenient for you). Do not forget that despite the many advantages, polyurethane foam is afraid of sunlight, so as soon as possible it must be protected from them by plastering.

Index	Din	Mounting KS	Pistol NBS
Material fire resistance class	4102	AT 3	AT 3
Thermal conductivity	52612	0.035 W/(mºС)
Tensile Strength	53455	140 kPa	65 kPa
Elongation at break	53455	13%	17%
Shear strength	53422	90 kPa	40 kPa
Compressive stress at 10% strain	ISO 844		25 kPa
Foaming: When the surface is wet No moisture
Hygroscopicity	53428	0,3%	0,3%
Temperature stability	for a long time	from -40ºС to +90ºС from -40ºС to +130ºС	from -40ºС to +90ºС from -40ºС to +130ºС
Processing temperature		from -10ºС to +35ºС
Loss of stickiness (with a strip thickness of 30 mm)		In 10 minutes	In 10 minutes
Cutting (with a strip thickness of 30 mm)		After 60 min	After 45 minutes
	After 24 hours	After 24 hours
Foam output 750 ml		42 l	45 l
Raw Material Density		25 - 33 kg/m³	15 - 25 kg/m³
Shelf life			12 months from date of manufacture
Warehouse storage conditions			in a cool dry place in a horizontal position

Do not forget about precautions, this will avoid unpleasant consequences.

There are a number of factors that affect how much foam dries. Polymerization or plain language the hardening time of the foam is completely dependent on moisture. Water catalyzes this process, as a result of which a certain pattern is obtained: the more the material gets wet, the faster it hardens.

Polyurethane foam is valued primarily for its ability to expand after application to the surface. Moreover, the volume of this material increases several times.

Conventional household sealants increase in volume up to 60%. High quality professional formulations have a coefficient of more than 250%.

Foam for household (with applicator) and professional use

The same composition has a different expansion coefficient under the influence of different conditions.

These conditions include:

• Temperature indicator;
• Application method;
• The level of air humidity;
• The rate at which a substance exits a container.

Although manufacturers put volume information on the label (final volume after expansion), do not rely too much on this data.

The expansion of the substance occurs when the sealant leaves the cylinder and solidifies.

Conventionally, this process is divided into two stages:

1. Primary expansion - occurs when the material is applied.
2. Secondary expansion - carried out until the conversion time is completed. For quality materials at this stage, the expansion coefficient is 30%, which is taken into account during operation. More often enough to fill the space by a third. As a result, the material after expansion will fill the gap completely.

The foam shrinks. When choosing a quality material, you can not be afraid that this will cause problems , since the shrinkage in this case is a rare event. The coefficient is 5% and shrinkage is difficult to see with the naked eye. If this is visible, then the polyurethane is of poor quality.

Using foam when installing doors

Features of polyurethane material

Polyurethane foam is widely used in construction. Due to the expansion of the material, the voids are filled and the surfaces are glued together.

Use extends to:

• Installation of window and door structures;
• Sealing of elements of communication systems;
• Insulation of premises;
• Filling hidden voids and defects on different surfaces and so on.

Foam is vulnerable to ultraviolet radiation. Therefore, the application of the material is carried out at the stage of roughing. Subsequently, the gaps are closed with finishing materials.

In addition to the coefficient of expansion, there are other parameters that are paid attention to when choosing a material.

Main characteristics:

• Structure - quality product characterized by small cells and a large number of closed pores on the surface;
• The final volume is the volume of the foam after the completion of its drying time. Some sealants with a 0.75 liter can can provide up to 60 liters of final volume;
• Adhesion ability - the property of a sealant to provide good adhesion to the surfaces to which it is applied. The exception is Teflon, cellophane, polyethylene - they do not lend themselves to good gluing with foam;
• The device of the cylinder - high-quality containers are equipped with a reliable valve, the material must move slowly during the movement of the cylinder.

The result of applying different sealants

Material polymerization principle

Water plays a major role in the curing of the sealant. Under the influence of moisture, the level of adhesion increases, so experts recommend moistening openings and crevices with water before applying the sealant.

With normal humidity, a five-centimeter-thick layer of foam can dry within three hours. After that, a correction is performed. All protruding and sloppy parts of the sealant are cut off and plastered.

Completion of polymerization occurs after 12 hours, sometimes less. The influence of frost and dry weather conditions increases the curing time, which can last another 24 hours. Therefore, for safety reasons, it is better to postpone further work for a period until the sealant hardens.

What else can you learn about mounting foam:

There are ways to speed up polymerization. It is enough to moisten the surface of the sealant with improvised means or spray it with water from a spray bottle. To protect the material from the sun, the filled areas are covered with a layer of plaster or painted over (only those areas that are exposed to sunlight).

Content

Polyurethane foam belongs to the group of sealing agents, without which it is impossible to do without during the construction process. It is used in cases where it is necessary to seal seams / joints of more than 3 cm. Often you can stumble upon the question “How long does the mounting foam dry”, but it turns out that it is not quite correctly posed. The fact is that the secret of turning the prepolymer into a strong polyurethane foam lies in the degree of its wetting.

Expansion factor

The main feature of the described building material is its ability to expand several times. If we talk about household foam, then its coefficient of increase in volume reaches 60%, in professional compositions it can be all 300%

Attention! Identical varieties of material can behave very differently, and this is determined by environmental conditions. We are talking about the air temperature, its humidity, the type of application, the speed with which the foam composition leaves the container. Manufacturers always indicate overestimated output volume indicators, but you should not be guided only by them.

Before you figure out how long the mounting foam dries, consider its types. It can be primary, i.e. the prepolymer begins to expand immediately upon application to the surface. As the name implies, the secondary expansion lasts throughout all stages of the transformation of a high-molecular compound. This should always be remembered when using such building materials.

The ability to expand is not the only characteristic. How much mounting foam dries in an apartment sometimes depends on the degree of its shrinkage, which rarely reaches 5%. If this happens, then most likely you are using low-quality materials. Be prepared for the fact that a mass break may even occur. Each master chooses for himself best option considering your needs. If the degree of expansion is in the first place for you, then Macroflex, Moment, GoldGan, Macrosil products are suitable.

Detailed description of the sealant

Interesting! This type sealant in the construction industry began to be used recently, but despite this, he quickly forced out competitors.

The advantages of polyurethane foam include:

• easy application;
• affordability;
• durability.

At first it was said that water plays a major role in the process of sealant hardening. It is under its influence that the level of adhesion increases, so experts recommend pre-wetting the working surfaces. If you are interested in how much mounting foam dries when installing doors, then keep in mind that this indicator is affected by the thickness of the layer and the air temperature. With optimal performance, completely dried excess pieces of material can be cut off after 3 hours, and proceed with the plaster. As for the final polymerization, it lasts for another 12 hours. In conditions of cold and dry weather, the process can be delayed for an indefinite amount of time. One thing is for sure, that it is possible to proceed to the next stage of work only after the porous mixture has completely solidified.

If you are not satisfied with how long the mounting foam dries when installing windows, you can speed up the process. To do this, periodically spray the sealant (moisten it in any way convenient for you). Do not forget that despite the many advantages, polyurethane foam is afraid of sunlight, so as soon as possible it must be protected from them by plastering.

Index	Din	Mounting KS	Pistol NBS
Material fire resistance class	4102	AT 3	AT 3
Thermal conductivity	52612	0.035 W/(mºС)
Tensile Strength	53455	140 kPa	65 kPa
Elongation at break	53455	13%	17%
Shear strength	53422	90 kPa	40 kPa
Compressive stress at 10% strain	ISO 844		25 kPa
Foaming: - wet surface - no moisture
Hygroscopicity	53428	0,3%	0,3%
Temperature stability	for a long time	from -40ºС to +90ºС from -40ºС to +130ºС	from -40ºС to +90ºС from -40ºС to +130ºС
Processing temperature		from -10ºС to +35ºС
Loss of stickiness (with a strip thickness of 30 mm)		In 10 minutes	In 10 minutes
Cutting (with a strip thickness of 30 mm)		After 60 min	After 45 minutes
	After 24 hours	After 24 hours
Foam output 750 ml		42 l	45 l
Raw Material Density		25 – 33 kg/m³	15 – 25 kg/m³
Shelf life			12 months from date of manufacture
Warehouse storage conditions			in a cool dry place in a horizontal position

Do not forget about precautions, this will avoid unpleasant consequences.

Polyurethane foam is one of those materials that has recently appeared on our market, but has already gained popularity and widespread use among builders and repairmen.

Indeed, many have already abandoned the use of cement, plaster, mineral wool. In addition to the fact that working with these materials is quite difficult, there is still no guarantee that you will be able to completely close up all the holes and holes. Mounting foam - that's really a versatile option.

This product has a number of advantages over other sealants:

• ease of use;
• no additional skills or abilities are required;
• speed of application;
• affordable price;
• the ability to penetrate into hard-to-reach places;
• safety for human health;
• possessing sound and heat insulation qualities;
• high degree of adhesion to all materials.

Polyurethane foam is used during the installation of windows, doors, when filling holes inside walls, ceilings, sealing holes near pipes. As already noted, mounting foam can be used with metal, glass, wood, concrete, brick, ceramics.

To choose a good foam and carry out effective work, you should know the main characteristics of this substance.

Temperature plays an important role in foam drying time. It is believed that the best option there will be a range from +5 to +30 degrees indoors. In addition, the can itself must be heated to a temperature of +10 degrees. Mounting foam dries up precisely when exposed to atmospheric phenomena. Of no small importance is humidity, which also affects the speed and drying time of any mounting foam. If there is not enough moisture, before starting work, moisten the surface to be treated with water using a conventional sprayer. Experiments have shown that the ideal conditions are +20°C and 60-80% humidity. Then the time for complete drying of the mounting foam is approximately 3-5 hours, however, it is rather difficult to achieve such conditions.

Most often, the appearance of the first hard crust occurs after 20-30 minutes, but complete solidification can last for a day. It also depends on the amount of applied material. In any case, the hardening time of the mounting foam is usually written on the packaging. It may vary from manufacturer to manufacturer.

When working with mounting foam, remember the expansion that it has. This substance usually increases in size 2 times: at the first pouring out of the can, with gradual hardening. This fact must be taken into account, since if you do not fix the structure, this can lead to its deformation, because the hardened mounting foam is very strong and hard.

Also, a good foam has a sufficient degree of viscosity, which does not allow it to spread over the surface.

Now many companies produce this product. You should not buy cheap polyurethane foam, otherwise you run the risk of low quality. It is best to use a well-known, reliable brand. Belinka has always produced quality products. In the catalog of this company you can find several types of mounting foam.

BELINKA BELPUR PU FOAM GUN is a wonderful, summer polyurethane foam, when working with it, it is necessary to maintain the air temperature not lower than +5°C. It has a high level of adhesion to all materials, never spreads, does not crumble, and retains its properties for a long time. When working with this type of product, a gun is required. With such equipment, working is much more convenient and faster. The hardening time of this mounting foam ranges from 5 to 12 hours. Polyurethane foam is produced in cylinders only with a volume of 750 ml. This substance perfectly tolerates the effects of water, moisture, chemicals.

Latest Articles

There are a number of factors that affect how much foam dries. Polymerization, or in simple terms, the hardening time of the foam, is completely dependent on moisture. Water catalyzes this process, as a result of which a certain pattern is obtained: the more the material gets wet, the faster it hardens.

Polyurethane foam is valued primarily for its ability to expand after application to the surface. Moreover, the volume of this material increases several times.

Conventional household sealants increase in volume up to 60%. Professional formulations of high quality have a coefficient of more than 250%.

Foam for household (with applicator) and professional use

The same composition has a different expansion coefficient under the influence of different conditions.

These conditions include:

• Temperature indicator;
• Application method;
• The level of air humidity;
• The rate at which a substance exits a container.

Although manufacturers put volume information on the label (final volume after expansion), do not rely too much on this data.

The expansion of the substance occurs when the sealant leaves the cylinder and solidifies.

Conventionally, this process is divided into two stages:

1. Primary expansion - occurs when the material is applied.
2. Secondary expansion - carried out until the conversion time is completed. For quality materials at this stage, the expansion coefficient is 30%, which is taken into account during operation. More often enough to fill the space by a third. As a result, the material after expansion will fill the gap completely.

The foam shrinks. When choosing a quality material, you can not be afraid that this will cause problems , since the shrinkage in this case is a rare event. The coefficient is 5% and shrinkage is difficult to see with the naked eye. If this is visible, then the polyurethane is of poor quality.

Using foam when installing doors

Features of polyurethane material

Polyurethane foam is widely used in construction. Due to the expansion of the material, the voids are filled and the surfaces are glued together.

Use extends to:

• Installation of window and door structures;
• Sealing of elements of communication systems;
• Insulation of premises;
• Filling hidden voids and defects on different surfaces, etc.

Foam is vulnerable to ultraviolet radiation. Therefore, the application of the material is carried out at the stage of roughing. Subsequently, the gaps are closed with finishing materials.

In addition to the coefficient of expansion, there are other parameters that are paid attention to when choosing a material.

Main characteristics:

• Structure - a quality product is characterized by small cells and a large number of closed pores on the surface;
• The final volume is the volume of the foam after the completion of its drying time. Some sealants with a 0.75 liter can can provide up to 60 liters of final volume;
• Adhesion ability - the property of a sealant to provide good adhesion to the surfaces to which it is applied. The exception is Teflon, cellophane, polyethylene - they do not lend themselves to good gluing with foam;
• The device of the cylinder - high-quality containers are equipped with a reliable valve, the material must move slowly during the movement of the cylinder.

The result of applying different sealants

Material polymerization principle

Water plays a major role in the curing of the sealant. Under the influence of moisture, the level of adhesion increases, so experts recommend moistening openings and crevices with water before applying the sealant.

With normal humidity, a five-centimeter-thick layer of foam can dry within three hours. After that, a correction is performed. All protruding and sloppy parts of the sealant are cut off and plastered.

Completion of polymerization occurs after 12 hours, sometimes less. The influence of frost and dry weather conditions increases the curing time, which can last another 24 hours. Therefore, for safety reasons, it is better to postpone further work for a period until the sealant hardens.

What else can you learn about mounting foam:

There are ways to speed up polymerization. It is enough to moisten the surface of the sealant with improvised means or spray it with water from a spray bottle. To protect the material from the sun, the filled areas are covered with a layer of plaster or painted over (only those areas that are exposed to sunlight).

In contact with

In fact, the question "How long does the polyurethane foam dry?" placed completely wrong! The secret to converting a prepolymer into a strong polyurethane foam is how well it gets wet. It is from moisture that the rate of "drying" of the foam depends. Let's take a closer look.

Expansion coefficient - the main parameter

The value of this building material for the most part depends precisely on its ability to expand many times over. Household foam is able to expand up to 60% of its original volume, professional compositions have a much higher coefficient - up to 300%. Moreover, the same foam under different conditions can expand in completely different ways. The prepolymer is affected by temperature, air humidity, type of application, foam exit rate from the can. Yes, and different masters in the same room can have different results. On the packaging, manufacturers indicate the maximum yield of the polymer, but you should not strictly focus on it.

The expansion of the prepolymer during the process of exit from the balloon and solidification is divided into two types: primary and secondary. Primary expansion is called immediately after exiting the cylinder, secondary expansion lasts until the completion of the polymer transformation process. The secondary expansion of high-quality materials reaches 30%, which cannot be ignored when using them. It is usually enough to fill the gap by one third, so that in the end it is completely filled with polyurethane foam.

In addition to expansion, polyurethane foam can also shrink, although for quality products this shrinkage is rarely 5%. If you observe a large shrinkage - alas, you have come across a very low-quality polyurethane. In this case, even a gap in the mass can happen, which in turn will entail a lot of other problems. Each master chooses foam according to his needs. A large expansion is important to someone, in such cases it will do Makroflex, Penosil GoldGun, Moment, Macrosil, when installing windows it is best to use Tytan- it gives optimal expansion and quickly hardens.

Characteristics of polyurethane foam - let's look at the details!

This sealant began to be used in the construction industry relatively recently, however, in this short time, polyurethane foam has almost completely replaced its former competitors. It is applied easily, is inexpensive, serves for many decades, has sound and heat insulating properties. Most often it is used to seal gaps between the doorway and the door frame during its installation, as well as when installing windows.

Expanding, the sealant fills all the voids, reliably “glues” the surfaces together, and when solidified, the polymer fixes the door frame or window. Foam is not afraid of precipitation and cold, it does not pass electricity and is not afraid of mold and fungus. The only drawback is the fear of ultraviolet radiation, however, often the material is applied at the stage of rough work, which is then hidden under a decorative layer of plaster.

Anyone who encounters this material quite often begins to pay attention to such parameters as:

• Porosity of polyurethane foam. The smaller the pores, the better - less plaster consumption and stronger material structure. The more closed pores on the surface, the better the material is - it will reliably retain heat inside the house.
• The volume of mounting foam. We are talking about the volume of the polymer after it hardens. It is important to remember that manufacturers indicate the volume based on standard climatic conditions: positive temperature, high humidity. In winter, the volume of finished foam from a cylinder of the same company can be half as much, and the company has nothing to do with it - low temperature and low air humidity are to blame. It should also be remembered that the yield of material from a cylinder used with a mounting gun is usually more , than from the option with a ready-made adapter, since manufacturers pump more gas into professional cylinders. The fact is that in domestic cylinders very often the gas runs out before the material, and this is money thrown away. Traditionally, cylinders have a capacity of 300 ml, 500 ml and 750 ml. A 300 ml can contains about 30 liters of foam, this is enough to close up a gap of up to 5 cm between one door frame and a doorway. If the gap is larger, it is recommended to reduce the width of the gap with a layer of foam or other similar material in order to save money. The output of foam from a 500 ml container is up to 40 liters, and from a 750 ml container - up to 50 liters. One 750 ml can is enough for two standard door frames.
• material adhesion. The very concept of "adhesion" means the ability of one material to stick together with another. In the case of polyurethane foam, the adhesion of the material is very high to almost any surface, except for cellophane, polyethylene and Teflon. Due to its high adhesion, this sealant is often used as an adhesive, especially when gluing PVC or foam boards. Rest assured, after complete hardening of the binder, the panels can only be torn off with “meat”. High adhesion allows you to close even large gaps by applying the polymer in several layers. However, in such cases, do not skimp on the material - low-quality foam clings worse to the surface, falls down, and more is consumed. In a word, it is cheaper to buy the cylinder that is more expensive.
• Balloon quality. Both the design and quality of the cylinder can affect the final result. Firstly, high-quality products are equipped with reliable valves that easily return to their original position after being pressed, blocking air access and gas outlet. By the way, it is by the cylinders that you can determine what you are dealing with - with high-quality material or a cheap fake. In the store, take two cylinders for comparison - if the contents are of different quality, then you will feel it. The best tank will be heavier, and as you move, you will feel the contents slowly roll from side to side. In a cheap bottle, the prepolymer will hang around like sour yogurt.

How long does mounting foam dry - looking for the exact answer

As you already understood, polyurethane foam is a rather complicated material and has many nuances. As in the case of the expansion coefficient, which depends on many factors, answering the question “How long does the mounting foam harden?” Is quite difficult. First of all, it depends on the humidity.

Water is involved in the polymerization process of the prepolymer, in addition, the foam has increased adhesion to wet surfaces, which is why it is recommended to wet the cracks and openings with water before applying the foam.

If the humidity is normal, then 3 hours will be enough to solidify a five-centimeter layer, after which you can cut off the protruding pieces of polyurethane foam and apply plaster. The final polymerization will last much longer - from 7 to 12 hours. If the weather is frosty and dry, then the process can drag on for a day. It is this time that will be the final answer to the question “How long does the polyurethane foam “dry up””. In any case, if time permits, take your time, wait until everything hardens properly.

To speed up the hardening process, periodically spray the material or moisten in any way convenient for you. Remember that polymers are afraid of sunlight, so as soon as possible, paint over or plaster the surface that is in contact with ultraviolet light. The plastering process is in many ways similar to.