Which foam is best for installation. Polyurethane foam types and applications

No repair is complete without polyurethane foam. Is it worth taking the first cylinder you come across? Do you need to focus on popular brands? What is better - foam with a straw or professional? RMNT will help you understand these issues and reveal some secrets of manufacturers.

Polyurethane foam - how it works

Polyurethane foam, along with other types of sealants, is one of the most popular types of insulating materials.

Polyurethane foam (another name is polyurethane foam sealant) is a mixture of two main chemical substances produced from crude oil - polyol and isocyanate. The reaction of these liquids leads to the formation of polyurethane foam - the same composition that comes out of a can of foam.

In the production of foam, various accelerators of chemical processes (catalysts), adhesion enhancers (surfactants), antifreeze and fire-resistant additives and filler gases are also used.

By chemical composition Polyurethane foam can be one-component or two-component.

Single-component foam is most widely represented on the building materials market. The polymer included in its composition, when sprayed from a container, enters into a chemical reaction with moisture from the air and, as a result, increases in volume and hardens. The hardening process lasts about a day and depends on the volume of foam used and atmospheric conditions. That is why it is not recommended to foam large voids at once - the composition will not be able to react with air and will remain liquid. To speed up the hardening of the foam, manufacturers recommend additionally moistening the surface. The disadvantage of one-component foam is its short shelf life due to the possibility of uncontrolled chemical reactions occurring in the cylinder.

Two-component foam (also called structural foam) is primarily used in professional construction. In a special container, the two active ingredients are stored separately and are combined only when activated. Arising between them chemical reaction does not require additional exposure to air and occurs much faster - two-component foam completely hardens in 20-30 minutes. An additional advantage of this composition is the increased shelf life. But such foam is not suitable for repeated use - after mixing the components, the container must be used completely. Therefore, two-component foam is most often used by window workers and roofers when large volumes works

Professional or household - what to choose

There is a widespread belief that household foam (foam with a tube) is a product for beginners, but professional foam (pistol foam) is only for masters of their craft. This is partly true: household foam is most often used for one-time and rough work and does not require special skills, while professional foam requires the use of a fairly expensive gun and a certain skill. But these are not all their differences:

Many manufacturers take advantage of the fact that household foam is most often purchased by non-professionals, who may use this product only once in their lives. Therefore, the quality requirements for production are often underestimated: in household cans, the volume of filler gas is often increased by reducing the volume of polymer. This leads to the fact that, with the same size and weight of the can, the yield of “pipe” foam is lower than that of professional foam. However, given the cost of a mounting gun, it is unlikely that anyone will splurge on purchasing one just to foam the seams in a window frame once. And it will not be easy for a beginner without experience to cope with professional foam.

Choosing foam - reading the label correctly

We have already looked at the most important differences between household foam and professional foam. What else should you pay attention to when buying foam?

1. Temperature conditions for use. The temperature in degrees must be indicated on the can:

• summer foam - from +5 to +35 °C
• winter foam - from -10 to -35 °C
• all-season foam - from -10 to +35 °C

Important! The numbers indicated indicate permissible temperature during work! Hardened foam of any season can withstand temperature changes from -40 to +90 °C. But, working with foam at low temperatures, it is worth considering that the output decreases in proportion to the cooling of the environment.

2. Foam coming out of the container. On many cylinders you can see flashy slogans like “Yield increased!”, “Yield up to 65 liters!” Simple arithmetic will help here: from 1 kg of pure polymer, an average of 65 liters of foam is obtained. The volume of the largest cylinder is about 950 grams, of which approximately 150 grams is gas, 100 grams is the weight of the cylinder itself. 950 - 150 - 100 = 700 grams of polymer in the dry residue, that is, approximately 45 liters of foam at the output. But it is unlikely that anyone will begin to measure the volume of the resulting foam - this is what advertising is designed for.

3. It’s trivial, but be sure to check the expiration date and appearance foam bottle. During long-term storage and mechanical damage a chemical reaction may begin inside the container - the foam will thicken or harden and you will not be able to squeeze it out.

4. Check the weight of the container and shake it slightly - the contents should be quite heavy and easily roll around the container. It makes sense to compare two cylinders of the same volume, but different in price and manufacturer - the difference can be quite noticeable.

Foam brands - proven manufacturers and newcomers to the market

Now any building materials store offers a choice of polyurethane foam with a wide range of prices and manufacturers. We'll look at the brands you're most likely to choose from:

All of the above manufacturers are leaders in the polyurethane foam market. They are known to almost everyone due to mass production and significant advertising support.

However, any consumer should understand that the more popular the brand, the brighter and more impressive the packaging, the more money the company spends on marketing research and advertising. These costs cannot but affect the cost of the final product. But often the quality of promoted brands begins to limp, to put it mildly.

But manufacturers just entering the market are trying with all their might to take their place in the sun - they focus on the quality of the foam, and not on the appearance of the cylinder. But unknown brands should be purchased only after first checking the availability of all certificates. Having a sanitary-hygienic certificate and a quality certificate will protect you from purchasing a counterfeit or low-quality product.

High-quality foam and pleasant to work with. In the next article, “How to understand silicone sealants: advice from a professional,” you will learn about the varieties silicone sealants and areas of their application.

Video on the topic

Polyurethane foam is widely used in construction work ah, during renovations. Therefore, it is not surprising that today almost every amateur repairman is faced with the question of which polyurethane foam is better. We invite you to take a look at the rating of the 5 most popular brands of this product, compiled according to professional builders. But first, let’s look at what high-quality polyurethane foam should be.

Level of quality

Professionals regularly test products from various manufacturers to identify the best sealant. When choosing a good product, they primarily focus on the following points:

1. The polyurethane foam should adhere perfectly to any surface and not flow from it.
2. It does not decrease in size after final drying, that is, it does not shrink significantly.
3. High-quality products are characterized by elasticity.
4. It does not create cracks in the cold and does not crumble.
5. The weight of the cylinder should be on average about 910 grams (taking into account the foaming substance equivalent to 750 ml).

The modern market is really crowded different types this product, but this does not mean that any polyurethane foam offered by the manufacturer is of high quality. Often, construction market shelves receive products that do not comply established requirement: for example, in the form of a traditional propellant gas, toxic substances are included in the composition of the foam, which are very harmful to the ozone layer and, of course, to health.

IMPORTANT: there are cases where companies simply underfill MP into the cylinder. Of course, not only the quality of the product suffers from this, but also the consumer himself. Therefore, be careful!

Features of MP

What is polyurethane foam? She happens to be liquid polymer, which hardens after a certain time. In order for this product to have the consistency of foam, the polymer is mixed in a cylinder with a specific gas. MP can be produced in two variations:

Among the disadvantages: often the indicated volumes of foam do not correspond to reality. Of the 65 “declared” liters, there are often only 45 in the can. Remember this and keep your receipts.

5 leaders

Considering the above points, our professionals have identified several brands, which in practice have better performance properties. These are “Moment Montazh”, “Makroflex”, “Soudal”, “Titan O2”, “Penosil”. The MP of these companies is productive in insulation and filling work panel seams.

The choice of specialists is justified by the following factors:

• The level of adhesion of polyurethane foam to the seam surfaces. This is one of the defining points: if the seam is more than 50 mm wide, then the MP layer can simply fall out of it. There will be a need to create a second “foam” layer, which requires additional material costs.
• The degree of porosity of the sealant on the cut. In case of high porosity, the thermal insulation properties are reduced, since there are cavities in the foam various sizes. This means that when sealing seams you will need large quantity mastic for filling all holes.
• Exit of polymer from the container. At the same time, you can check whether the package actually contains the volume declared by the manufacturer.

Let's look at the products of our leaders in more detail and objectively.

Moment Installation

One of the most popular brands in its segment. You can find it in any construction market. MP of this brand is produced in adapter and industrial variations. It is used in most construction works, and at any time of the year.

The main function of the sealant is to fill voids in the structure and seal the seam. The foam itself has a high uniform density and adheres well to most surfaces. Used for external and interior renovation. It holds up well to further painting.

Among the disadvantages: the sealant has significant secondary expansion; there are often cases when the MP slightly moves the window sills or door frame. Of course, this is not typical for such a brand, but hackwork sometimes occurs. Poor quality products can be recognized by their unpleasant odor and pungent yellow color. After a year, this sealant loses its elasticity. Average price – 320 rubles.

"Makroflex"

One of the most popular and famous brands. Plus, it is considered the most economical. It is used for summer and winter use and adheres perfectly to absolutely any building materials. The sealant has a visually homogeneous structure and conducts a minimum of secondary expansion. The declared yield is on average about 25 liters.

The range of applications is quite wide: traditional sealing, excellent heat and sound insulation, installation of door and window frames, plumbing repairs.

However, there are disadvantages. Sometimes among the sealants of this brand there is an outright defect, which also applies to the pistol. In this case, either one polymer comes out of the Makroflex cylinder, smearing everything around it, or only gas, and after the release of a small volume of “foamy” substance, splashes appear.

Another drawback that experts warn about is serious shrinkage. After using low-quality products, you have to cut off the cavities and “add” the lack of volume there. The average cost is 200 rubles. (capacity – 0.75 liters).

"Soudal"

Less popular polyurethane foam, but one of the most worthy in the quality category. Several variations of the product are available: for summer and winter, as well as a separate type - fire-resistant. In winter, Soudal operates at a maximum temperature of minus 20°C. Does not contain toxic additives, does not have unpleasant smell.

Conducts slight secondary expansion and adheres well to the surface. The structure contains a minimum of pores and a maximum of density. Scope of application: sealing and insulation of roofs, installation various designs, pipe insulation, plumbing repair. It does not shrink, hardens instantly and, most importantly, evenly.

Among the disadvantages: “Soudal” does not tolerate ultraviolet light well, so if you do not cover it protective paint, then after a year it will crumble and take on an unpleasant brown tint. The average cost is 250 rubles.

"Penosil"

Also not a particularly popular brand, but very high quality. The product is dense and uniform, and practically does not produce secondary expansion or shrinkage. This is a champion among MPs in terms of output volume. Effective for internal work during fixation and installation of structures, excellent in filling cavities and seams. Virtually odorless, white in color.

Among the disadvantages: Penosil is not suitable for outdoor use: it no longer works at -4°C and +35°C. During hot weather, the sealant refuses to foam, so it simply flows out. Average price – 220 rubles.

"Titan O2"

This is the most respected brand among professionals. Titanium is quite economical, but does not lose quality. It is non-toxic and adheres well to all surfaces. It has a fine and dense structure, holds volume well, and does not shrink or expand. The foam yield is average.

You can choose an acceptable Titan series: for winter period and products with increased fire resistance. Scope of application: pipe installation, repair heating systems and water supply. Experts also recommend using it for thermal insulation.

Among the disadvantages: poor tolerance to ultraviolet radiation, fragility: after a year, Titan begins to crumble, lose elasticity, and darken. However, nothing like this is observed indoors. Average cost – 230 rubles.

Conclusion

As you can see, even the most popular types of polyurethane foam misfire in some cases, so you shouldn’t rely on the brand when choosing the right product. We suggest looking at things objectively and buying products that not only live up to their big name, but also have significant advantages in use.

Anton Tsugunov

Reading time: 6 minutes

Properly selected and correctly applied polyurethane foam for windows is an important component of their high-quality installation. It is difficult to imagine installing modern PVC window structures without this easy-to-use and reliable material. A novice master will have to understand the differences and features of foam in order to choose a composition from wide range offered by stores.

Properties and scope of material

Polyurethane foam is a liquid polyurethane solution pumped into a container under pressure. When exposed to air, it quickly hardens and at the same time increases significantly in volume.

There are 2 types of foam expansion:

1. Primary (when the composition leaves the cylinder). Provides ease of use: the solution can effortlessly fill any shaped recesses.
2. Secondary. Among the disadvantages: an increase in the volume of sealant during final polymerization can deform the window elements. Therefore, it must be taken into account when carrying out work.

Completely hardened material acquires unique useful qualities:

• Low thermal conductivity is achieved due to air bubbles located in the thickness of the frozen material. If not for the price, foam could well be considered as an alternative to conventional insulation materials.
• The presence of air voids increases the sound insulation of the entire window design: vibrations transmitted to the window are damped by foam. Thus, it is in addition to the installed rubber seals, enhancing soundproofing.
• Cured foam does not allow penetration electricity, has water-repellent properties, is not susceptible to rotting or mold.

• High adhesion rates make it possible to use foam as a fixing material: it securely fixes window or door frames, as well as other elements, in place.
• Depending on the brand, the composition does not support combustion or is completely resistant to fire.

Thanks to its special properties, the foam is ideal for exterior and interior use. But, like any material, it has disadvantages:

• After hardening, the excess composition is cut off. And if the cut surface is not treated appropriately, then water will get into the open pores. Over time, this causes the material to deteriorate.

• The frozen composition does not withstand exposure to ultraviolet radiation, so it must be protected from direct contact sun rays.
• You have to follow the rules for storing cylinders: strictly in vertical position at a temperature range from +5 ˚С to +25 ˚С.

The high adhesion of the foam allows it to reliably adhere to surfaces made of different materials. Therefore, you should work with the composition very carefully: if it gets on your hands or other parts of the body, you can only wipe it off with the top layer of skin, which will take at least several days. When pouring, be sure to use gloves. You should also securely cover all surfaces on which the solution may drip.

If foam does get on the floor, furniture or other surfaces, it can be removed in several ways, which are described.

The use of this design provides the following advantages:

• The ergonomics of the gun allows the master to fill cracks with one hand. The second remains free, due to which you can work alone at certain stages.
• The gun makes it possible to accurately dose the volume of solution released. This reduces consumption by reducing unnecessary waste.
• A thin, long nozzle will easily deliver the solution into hard-to-reach cracks and holes.
• The cylinder can be used in any position.
• The reusable valve ensures the safety of the solution between repairs.

When choosing professional cylinders, you do not need to solve the frequently asked question: where can the remaining solution be usefully used?

• Professional compositions have the best performance characteristics than household ones. For example, they have a lower secondary expansion coefficient, which makes their use more convenient.

Techniques for pouring foam using a professional gun are shown in the following video.

Mr. Build strongly recommends: for installation plastic windows use only professional mounting foam. Secondary expansion will not create unnecessary load on the structure or displace frame elements. The density of the professional compositions is maximum, and this will ensure the best quality of fastening, insulation and sealing of the seam.

Choose a gun based on budget, ergonomics and service life. For a single procedure, the cheapest one with plastic parts will do, but for professional use, give preference to dismountable high-quality models.

Household foam has less outstanding performance characteristics: worse adhesion, a higher coefficient of secondary expansion, and less material yield from the cylinder. It is sold in containers equipped with a plastic tube for supplying the solution. It is screwed onto the valve before blowing begins. It is recommended to use the entire bottle at once.

Working with household foam is less convenient: both hands are used, and the can must be placed bottom up. This will ensure a more complete release of the solution. Use it with the utmost caution and at the least important places. Fill the seam to no more than 50% depth!

Soundproofing foam

If the windows themselves do not transmit noise, then the polyurethane foam on which they are mounted is an excellent conductor of noise, since it is light, hard, and has a closed cellular structure, which facilitates the unhindered passage of sound waves.

Compared to ordinary construction foams, the use of MAXFORTE SoundFLEX foam adds more than 10 dB to sound insulation, which is equivalent to reducing noise by 2-3 times.

The difference between regular mounting foam and soundproofing foam can be seen in the video:

If you squeeze a piece of polyurethane foam in your hand, it will simply collapse, unlike specialized soundproofing foam. Like a sponge, it will return to its shape. It does not harden and thus does not become a sound bridge.

Winter or summer?

Foam is divided according to the seasonality of its use. It happens:

1. Summer, suitable for work at temperatures above +5 ˚С.
2. Winter, allowing you to seal cracks at temperatures down to -18˚ C.
3. All-season. Seen and used less frequently. Professionals advise using it during transition periods in autumn and winter or getting by with the first two varieties.

Flammability of foam

The compositions also differ in flammability parameters:

• B1 – the highest fire safety class, does not ignite even upon contact with open fire.
• B2 – does not burn on its own, without an additional heating source. Such compositions are called self-extinguishing.
• B3 – lowest flammability class. This material is not recommended for use, especially in residential areas.

Rules for choosing foam for installing PVC windows

The composition most suitable for a particular case is selected. What to look for when choosing?

• The temperature at which the cracks will be sealed. It is used to choose winter, summer or all-season foam.
• On the secondary expansion coefficient. The lower the value, the better. It is recommended not to use formulations with an indicator of more than 15–20%. Professional foam easily fits into such a framework, but with household foam the choice should be made carefully.
• For expiration date. No one can predict how the behavior of the solution will change after storage time. It's better not to take risks.
• To the fullness of the cylinder. Underfilling is a common occurrence. It’s easy to check: to do this, the canister is weighed. A full container of 750 ml weighs about 900 g.

HELPFUL INFORMATION: How to paint wooden floors in an apartment: review of materials

Polyurethane foam is a polyurethane sealant and, to some extent, its composition is similar to a dishwashing sponge. That is, it is practically foam rubber. Of course, it is unusual, but enriched with various chemical additives.

A container of polyurethane foam contains a mixture of liquid prepolymer and propellant, which is a propellant gas. It is this compressed gas that promotes the release of foam from the cylinder to the outside. It is characteristic that the process of its hardening is directly affected by the amount of moisture both on the treated surface and in the air. Therefore, with high air humidity, polymerization occurs much faster than in dry and hot weather. Thus, you can speed up the hardening process of the foam by simply wetting the surface with plain water.

Cured polyurethane foam is quite hard, but at the same time quite elastic, porous substance with a characteristic light yellow or white tint. It is very light, but is not moisture resistant and is extremely sensitive to ultraviolet radiation. When exposed to sunlight, it becomes yellow, brittle and quickly crumbles. In addition, the foam has good sound and heat insulation properties.

Characteristics of polyurethane foam

During the selection process, you should take into account specifications polyurethane foam.

Output volume.

As a rule, foam cylinders indicate the total volume that can be obtained after its expansion and hardening. Typically, a unit such as a liter is used to measure this parameter. At the same time, many people mistakenly believe that the numbers 50, 65 or 70 printed on foam cylinders are an indicator of the output volume. In fact, they indicate the amount of propellant that is contained in the cylinder under normal conditions. In reality, the amount of foam is much smaller, and its yield depends on a large number of factors. Therefore, instead of the 65 liters indicated on the cylinder, it usually comes out to about 35 liters.

Adhesion.

This indicator determines the ability of the foam to adhere to a variety of materials other than Teflon, polyethylene, polypropylene and silicone surfaces, with the exception of ice and oil.

Primary expansion.

This value shows the degree of expansion of the foam volume at the moment it leaves the cylinder. Moreover, during this period the volume increases several times.

Secondary expansion.

In this case, the increase in foam volume is taken into account, starting from the moment of initial expansion and ending with its complete polymerization. Depending on the manufacturer of this type of product, this value can vary significantly from 15% to 100%. Experts say that the minimum parameters of secondary expansion are considered the best indicator. Because foam can easily break wooden frame and bend a similar structure from a PVC profile. At the same time, using as a basis for plastic window sill some counterfeit and low-grade foam, the next day you can get a large curved hill instead of a flat surface.

Viscosity degree.

High-quality foam has a high viscosity, while low-grade products are incredibly liquid and often have a consistency similar to jelly. At the same time, this happens when during operation the air temperature does not correspond to acceptable parameters.

Types of polyurethane foam

What types of polyurethane foam are there?

Manufacturers produce different varieties polyurethane foam, which differ in composition, performance characteristics and scope of application.

However, conditionally, foam can be divided into (description of polyurethane foam):

Professional.

Cylinders with such foam are equipped with a special ring valve, which is used to screw the container onto the mounting gun. After the cylinder is secured to the tool, the foam under pressure enters the inside of the gun, where it rests against a valve that is controlled by a trigger. Thanks to the use of a gun, the procedure for applying foam to the work surface is as comfortable and quick as possible. By pressing your finger on the trigger, you can control the pressure and direction.

Household.

The set of such cylinders initially includes a special plastic tube, which allows you to perform the work without using a mounting gun. However, despite its simplicity and availability, in most respects it is significantly inferior to professional foam. In particular, it has a much higher secondary expansion rate and a lower output volume. Quite often, the gas in such cans runs out faster than the prepolymer. In addition, they are considered disposable, so they must be used immediately, since the next day the containers become completely unusable. Thus, it is best to fork out the money to buy a mounting gun, which costs within a few hundred rubles.

It is worth noting that it is strictly not recommended to use household foam to perform critical work, such as installing window and door designs, as well as window sills.

In addition, the composition of the polyurethane foam may differ in its composition:

One-component– it is familiar and available for general use.

Two-component– this type has a narrow scope of application and is not available for free sale. Since to use it you need to mix two different compositions.

Also, depending on the temperature conditions in which polyurethane foam can be used, it can be:

• Summer.
• Winter.
• All-season.

It should be noted that the composition of winter foam differs significantly from its summer counterparts. In particular, it can be used at low air temperatures, down to -20°C inclusive. Naturally, to use it in such frost, care should be taken to ensure that the temperature of the cylinder itself is positive.

In addition, the foam is distributed according to flammability classes and has the appropriate designations:

• B1 – fireproof.
• B2 – self-extinguishing.
• B3 – flammable.

Of course, polyurethane foam, which has increased fire-resistant properties, is considered the best.

Areas of application of foam

Mainly, foam is used during the installation of PVC windows, doors and other similar structures to seal them. You can also glue polystyrene foam and other materials onto the foam. thermal insulation materials. In addition, it can be used for soundproofing water pipes and steel baths. Because such bathtubs make an eerie rumble as they fill with water. To eliminate this defect you must:

1. Turn the bathtub over and place it on the floor.
2. Then very carefully cover its surface with foam.
3. Wait until it hardens.
4. Place the bathtub in its original place and enjoy the silence.

It should be noted that before gluing the foam, it is imperative to apply a layer of primer to the base surface. This will significantly increase the strength of the connection.

Choice

According to experts, the most popular and high-quality professional mounting foams are:

• Soudal Gun.
• Penosil GoldGun.
• Tytan Professional.

These types of foam are characterized by low secondary expansion, good viscosity and large output volume. Also, this product has a fairly long service life. Most experts recommend using one of these types of polyurethane foam to perform any important work.

Foam Application

Naturally, for normal use of foam you will need to purchase a can and a mounting gun. Then you can start working:

1. You need to shake the can vigorously for a minute to ensure complete mixing of all the components that make up the foam.
2. Screw the cylinder into the mounting gun until a sharp short-term hiss appears, which indicates the entry of foam into the inside of the tool.
3. By pressing the trigger, you can see foam coming out of the nozzle.
4. By pressing the trigger with different force, you can adjust the speed of filling the seams.
5. You only need to fill the seams with foam to 35 - 50% of the volume, because it will still expand.
6. Seams must be filled from bottom to top.

In order to speed up the hardening process of the foam, before applying it, you should first moisten the surface to be treated. In this case, after applying the foam, it is recommended to additionally spray water on it. Literally in an hour, it will harden enough, which will make it possible to cut off all the excess with a knife. For achievement complete process polymerization must take at least 24 hours.

During a break in work, you should not separate the foam container from the gun, because the foam inside it will not harden in any case. It is enough to simply rinse the nozzle of the gun with a cleaner, which is essentially ordinary acetone with special additives. After finishing the work, you need to disconnect the container from the gun and thoroughly rinse its ring with a cleaner, and then screw the cylinder onto it again and pull the trigger all the way. First, the remaining foam will begin to come out of the nozzle, and then the cleaner will come out. At this moment, it is necessary to release the trigger and separate the cylinder from the gun, leaving the cleaner in the barrel. Finally, you should carefully inspect the gun for any remaining foam.

All these procedures must be carried out with special gloves. Since if foam gets on the skin, it will take a very long time to scrub it off with a cleanser. At the same time, it is almost impossible to wash hardened polyurethane foam with acetone. Therefore, for these purposes you will need to buy a special solvent at a construction supermarket.

The modern construction market offers a large number of polyurethane foam. There are options for installing windows, doors and other work. There are professional formulations and ordinary ones. Every master wants to know which is the best. Let's try to find out.

What is polyurethane foam?

Professionals know, and for beginners in the construction business it will be very useful to know what this material is. Generally speaking, these are fluoropolymer sealants that contain isocyanate and polyol.

A propellant is used to create foam and also to create excess pressure.

Performance characteristics

The fact that this material is used in almost all areas of construction and repair work, due to its operational characteristics. The main properties and advantages of the mixture lie in its good soundproofing characteristics. The foam also withstands moisture well and has low electrical conductivity. In addition, the material is fire resistant and has excellent expansion properties. It easily fills any voids and cracks.

Types of polyurethane foam

Before you tell us which polyurethane foam is best to use, you need to know the types of these mixtures. There are several types of foam. And the first one is professional. It can only be used with a special gun, which makes it possible to exit the container. Professional products have a more uniform and dense composition, and secondary expansion is almost completely absent.

You can also select household foam, or, as it is also called, semi-professional. It can only be used one time. In addition, the household version is also characterized by a low filling density of the container. Manufacturers take advantage of the fact that household cylinders with foam are often far from being used professional builders. Therefore, significantly lower requirements are imposed on these products. Often the composition can be frankly of poor quality. There is more gas in the can than necessary, or vice versa - it comes out completely, but there is still a lot of polymer left.

Foam varies in temperature conditions at which this sealant can be used. There is a summer composition designed for temperatures from +5 to +35 degrees. Winter foam is suitable for use when extreme conditions, as it easily withstands temperatures from -20 to +30. There is also all-season foam. It has the characteristics of a summer and winter formula. The universal mixture has temperature regime from -10 to +30 degrees.

There is another type of sealant - these are special fire-fighting compounds. This product has special characteristics. The composition uses non-flammable components that retain their operational parameters even at high temperatures and open fire. Typically, such mixtures are used in construction, where the highest fire safety requirements are imposed.

The world's best brands

Among the manufacturers of polyurethane foam, there are five most famous ones, whose products sell well and deserve positive feedback. These are mainly Belgian and German companies. Let's find out which polyurethane foam is the best.

Soudal (Belgium)

The main representative office of this company is located in Belgium, and production is established all over the world - in the USA, Europe, India and many other countries. The company is a leader in the production of polyurethane sealants, aerosol foams, and various sealants. The brand has been in this market for more than 50 years. During this time, the company's products have earned enormous popularity. It is very difficult to say which polyurethane foam is the best among the entire Soudal line, because the entire range is distinguished by excellent quality and reasonable prices. The company produces both professional and household products. Everyone can find their own sealant for a specific task. Soudal specialists are constantly developing new formulas and monitoring quality. It is in these laboratories that the future is born construction technologies. Technicians create foam that has low expansion and enhanced performance characteristics.

One of the latest innovations is a special substance that simplifies and expands the options for working with these mixtures. If beginners in construction do not know which polyurethane foam is best for windows, then it is better to choose quality materials, for example, this manufacturer, which is in first place in the rating.

Penosil (Estonia)

This is a young brand that was founded in 1998. Today, the company has achieved that its products are in good demand in more than 50 countries around the world. More than 10% of all foam in Europe is sold under this brand. The company constantly monitors market developments and gives customers what they really need.

The Gold series of compositions is a professional line. This foam is suitable not only for work in the construction sector, but also in various industries. The products feature low expansion, high density and do not cause any damage. If you are looking for which polyurethane foam is best for doors, then you can choose this series. Although the range of work that can be done with this foam is very wide.

The Premium line includes household and professional formulations. This product is universal and differs high quality and is offered at affordable prices. The series sells both ordinary, winter and all-season foam. Standard is not what it seems at first glance. If you spend a long time choosing which polyurethane foam is the best, here the manufacturer offers not only quality, but also the most favorable prices. The line includes products for simple work, where there will be no high loads.

Dr. Schenk (Germany)

This manufacturer has been around for over 80 years. Facilities are located all over the world, including in Russia - this plant produces high-quality foam for Europe. Regardless of where the enterprise is located, production is carried out under the strictest quality control.

As for the assortment, it is not only polyurethane foam, but also various sealants, adhesives and other repair products. If we talk only about polyurethane foam, then the buyer receives a premium product at reasonable prices.

The brand offers high-quality compositions for external and internal work, for professional and household use. We produce polyurethane foam for PVC windows. Which is better depends on many factors, but all products receive high marks from professionals.

Domestic manufacturers

Along with foreign brands, there are also products from domestic companies on the market, which are no worse in quality and have more affordable prices for most. Professionals know which polyurethane foam is best. Reviews best position Profflex products.

Profflex

This manufacturer is located in the Tula region. Unlike Belgian and German brands, it specializes only in foam production. Reviews say that the quality of the product meets all requirements and is practically no different from European formulations. Profflex not only produces high-quality building materials, but also ensures that the cylinders have correct weight. The product line includes products for professionals and household items. There is also a large selection of winter products. If you choose which polyurethane foam is best for outdoor use, then professionals advise choosing the manufacturer Profflex.

The best of the best

Most experts in repair and construction agree that there is no and cannot be any better foam than Makroflex. What causes this? There are a huge number of positive reviews about winter foam for outdoor use - this composition really works always and everywhere.

Despite the fact that this is a well-known brand, the cost of the products is relatively low and is within the price range of any other good foam. This polymer does not crumble, hardens at sub-zero temperatures and is suitable for any coating. Many people ask about what is the best polyurethane foam suitable for construction. Most professionals choose products from Makroflex.

Spray foam gun - which one is better? Price and manufacturers

In stores you can see a lot various devices for working with polyurethane foam. They all have different prices and quality, made by different manufacturers. If you need a gun for polyurethane foam, then professionals recommend choosing metal solutions with a collapsible design. They cost about 500 rubles. Many people choose Kraftool guns for their stainless steel. This is reliable and simple equipment. This device also has the ability to regulate the flow of foam. Soudal offers pistols that feature Click and Fix technology. It allows you to almost instantly prepare the cylinder for use.

So, we looked at what types of polyurethane foam there are and their properties. Now the choice is yours.