Polyurethane panels

What is polyurethane and its applications

Polyurethane is a versatile and multiform polymer, essential for the realization of many objects and goods necessary for the quality of our life. We are dealing with a raw material used in several fields: from the automotive, to furniture, to industrial and domestic refrigeration, up to clothing, construction and applications in biomedical and health areas.

At STIFERITE’s, polyurethane is employed to manufacture thermal insulating rigid panels, which thanks to their lightweight and resistance, are used to construct systems for air transport.

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Expanded rigid polyurethane panel

One of the most important types of polyurethane is the expanded rigid one.

These materials, thanks to their excellent thermal insulation performances, contribute to improve energy efficiency of buildings and of all those products and systems which require a careful management of heat exchanges.

Expanded rigid polyurethanes (PUR) are polymers derived from an exothermic chemical reaction, complete and irreversible, of two main liquid components (isocyanates and polyols) woth blowing agents and other additives.

Polymerization leads to the creation of a macromolecule with a urethane structure (PUR = polyurethane).

The process of creation of macromolecules releases a considerable amount of heat (exothermic reaction) which the blowing agent utilizes to pass from the liquid status to the steam one, thus causing the foam expansion.

This reaction results in the development of a polymer which permanently adhere to coatings, by facilitating the creation of sandwich panels for insulation.

PIR foams

STIFERITE, from its creation in 1963, has actively participated to the research and development in the expanded rigid polyurethane field, contributing to introducing in the market, since the 2000s, the polyiso (PIR) foams. These material, thanks to an appropriate production process and to a different ratio among the main components, allow to isocyanate to react with itself, by creating macromolecules having the isocyanurate structure (PIR = polyiso – polyisocyanurate).

PIR is formed by strong tridimensional links, which have a high stabilization energy. The macromolecules are composed of chains which are more resistant compared to the links of a polyurethane. They are harder to break and give product higher chemical, physical and thermal characteristics, such as fire reaction, resistance to solvents, to compression, dimensional stability, dampening effect and negligible VOC (volatile organic compounds) emissions.

PUR and PIR

The reactions among the polyol and polyisocyanurate components, can be multiple and different, so it is possible to manufacture macromolecules which contain typical links both of PUR and PIR foam structure.

Expanded rigid polyurethanes (PUR) and the new polyiso foams (PIR) are united by and identified with rules in force with the single acronym PU.

Polyurethane panels

What is polyurethane and its applications

Expanded rigid polyurethane panel

PIR foams

PUR and PIR

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