Beruflich Dokumente
Kultur Dokumente
By John Clinton
P
olyiso foam insulation is the most widely used insulation means the amount of isocyanate is 250 to 300% of that needed
product for roofs in both new construction and in the re to react with any polyol used. Any isocyanurate over that
roofing market. As such, polyiso foam performs a variety of roles required to react with the polyol is used to make polyisocyanu
in a modern roofing system. It is the thermal insulation, mini rate other polymers.
mizing heat loss and heat gain of the building and reducing There are many different formulations to produce polyiso
operating costs; it supports the waterproofing membrane, pro foam insulation. A manufacturer may select formulations based
viding a stable surface, often tapered to promote drainage; it is on available raw materials and the insulation product properties
expected to be a required by the
structural element to intended use.
withstand the com
mon wind loads on a Polyiso Facers
building when the The facing mate
roof membrane is rial most commonly
attached to the upper used for polyiso roof
facer; and it is fire insulation today is a
resistant, often pro fiberglassreinforced
tecting membrane cellulosic felt. While
materials from the the color of the fac
heat in tests simulat ing material may be
ing internal fires. dark gray or black,
Some functions are the facer does not
unpredictable, such as contain asphalt. One
in cases where it main reason is that
becomes the working the polyiso foam
surface for all the dif products sold today
ferent trades. are practically uni
versal in compatibili
What is Polyiso ty with the variety of
Foam Insulation? This builtup roof at the Charles Schultz Info Center of Sonoma State University, Sonoma, CA, utilized waterproofing mem
Polyiso foam insu E’NRG’Y2 flat and tapered polyiso insulation by Johns Manville. branes installed over
lation is actually a mix them. The presence of
of polyisocyanurate and polyurethane polymers that form a asphalt may harm certain types of membranes installed in con
closedcell structure. Polyurethanes are produced after a chemi tact with the facer, and for this reason, polyiso foam facers do
cal reaction between polyol and polymeric isocyanate, while not contain asphalt. The foamforming chemicals used to pro
polyisocyanurate can be produced with no polyol. The iso duce polyiso foam are remarkable adhesives, which is why no
cyanate reacts with itself to form a highly crosslinked, ther additional adhesive material is necessary to attach the facings to
mosetting polymer. For commercial polyiso foam, the the foam core.
polyurethane is modified with some polyisocyanurate, creating
superior fire resistance and maintaining toughness. The “index” The Manufacturing Process
of polyiso foam roof insulation products today is 250300. That The liquid, foamforming mix (created in isolated and tem
peraturecontrolled mix tanks), is deposited on a continuously