The best all-round polyurethane foams
At home, in most cases, universal polyurethane foam is used, which can be applied to the surface both indoors and outdoors. To add products to the TOP, more than a dozen proposals were studied and 4 best representatives of this segment were identified.
Macroflex
Macroflex from the Estonian manufacturer Henkel is one of the best one-component polyurethane foam all-season polyurethane foam. It combines a reasonable price and good product properties, thanks to which it is loved by professional builders. The output is up to 65 liters of material. The curing period is 24 hours, during this time the mass turns into a durable aggregate that is resistant to mechanical damage.
The balloon is equipped with a temperature indicator showing whether the material can be applied under the given conditions or not. In addition to the standard 750 ml bottle, the manufacturer offers 300 or 500 ml options for filling small local cracks. Macroflex is on sale complete with an applicator tube.
Dignity
- Simple application;
- Bonding to most surfaces;
- Fills the cavity evenly;
- Non-toxic
- Good insulating properties.
disadvantages
- Afraid of the sun's rays;
- The entire container must be used immediately.
The final output volume of the material depends on the conditions and technique of its application. Low humidity will not allow it to fully expand, and an incorrect position of the cylinder reduces its throughput.
TechnoNIKOL No. 800 Master
Reviews of TechnoNIKOL polyurethane foam are mostly positive. It was developed by a Russian manufacturer for domestic use in various weather conditions. The withstanding temperature range is wide - from -10 to +35 degrees. The material is sold in 800 ml cylinders, the output of which reaches 60 liters of finished insulating material. The tack-off time is only 15 minutes, and the full polymerization time is 24 hours. The mass hardens under the influence of moisture.
Dignity
- High penetrating power;
- Even distribution without jerking;
- Dense homogeneous texture after drying;
- Manufacturer's reputation.
disadvantages
It may bubble at low temperatures.
It is necessary to store the balloon exclusively vertically, otherwise the composition loses some of its properties.
Titanium O2
The best universal polyurethane foam for a gun from those presented in this rating. The one-component formula expands well when applied to the surface. It is intended for professional use. High performance (65 liters from a balloon volume 750 ml) is achieved through an innovative formula.
The composition has a high level of adhesion to concrete, brick, glass, plaster, wood surfaces. The foam is free of CFC and HCFC, making it environmentally friendly.
Dignity
- Economical consumption;
- Low secondary expansion;
- Does not have a pungent odor;
- High degree of sound and thermal insulation.
disadvantages
The price is above average.
Titanium O2 is loved by professional builders because it speeds up the work process. Due to express drying, it can be cut off within 25 minutes after application.
Best hammers according to customer reviews
Soudal
Professional polyurethane foam that can be purchased at most hardware stores. It has a low expansion and is suitable for thin joints where accurate application is especially important.
Soudal adheres well not only to brick or concrete, but also to metal or glazed surfaces. The tip is included, so the cylinder can be used not only with a construction gun.
Dignity
- Dimensional stability;
- Uniform texture;
- Ease of application;
- Complete protective gloves.
disadvantages
Is not washed off.
Users note in reviews that they come across defective cylinders with a poorly working valve.
Brands
Currently, there is a large selection of foam manufacturers on the market. Let's consider briefly the most popular modern brands.
"Technonikol 65"
Professional means "TechnoNIKOL 65" is used for fixing walls, metal sheets, insulation of doors and windows. This material is considered to be all-season, as it can be used in various temperature ranges, ranging from –10 to + 35ºC. This feature makes this foam one of the most demanded building materials on the market. TechnoNIKOL 65 has an increased yield of the product. Its high performance and yield up to 70 liters are key benefits.
TechnoNicol Imperial
TechnoNIKOL Imperial is also a professional product, which is a polyurethane material in a bottle with a plastic thread. A special dispenser gun is attached to the cylinder, which carries out a moderate consumption of funds and is used for many finishing works. "Imperial" has a high capacity for filling cracks and holes.
Stayer
Stayer is a versatile polyurethane foam that is used to fix window and door blocks, to fill voids and seams. She has excellent technical characteristics, which ensure the strength of the sealant for a long service life, and also allow the material to be used in both warm and cold seasons. It can withstand temperature loads from –10 to + 35ºC.
Bostik
Bostik is a product that is suitable for general use as well as for work with fire-resistant structures. It provides reliable adhesion of working surfaces, which is why it is used even in shipbuilding. Bostik sealant is simple to work with and cures easily when exposed to materials and air. The temperature range of foam application is from +5 to + 30ºC.
"Moment"
"Moment" is a material that has excellent resistance to temperature changes from –55 to + 90ºC. Such excellent performance makes the product popular among many construction companies. It is chosen for joining joints, pipe passages, thermal insulation of door and window blocks.
"Moment" quickly spreads over the work surface and has an excellent ability to fill voids. The cylinder is equipped with a special valve, which is required for the use and attachment of a separate dispensing gun. When working with the product, there is a faint odor that disappears on its own in the hardened form of the material. The foam-cured surface dries in about 10-15 minutes. This foam solidifies completely on average per day.
From the video below you can learn how to properly use the foam gun.
Peculiarities
When choosing foam for installation, it is necessary to take into account the quality of the material. In this case, you need to carefully compare the expensive and cheap options. Usually, in expensive copies, the cylinder is much heavier in weight than the cheap one. Also, the economical option shows poor performance in terms of sealant resistance. After hardening, professional foam is characterized by small and uniform cells, while household foam has a larger and lumpy cell structure. Professional polyurethane foam is deservedly more expensive due to better quality, larger cylinder volume and technical characteristics.
Household polyurethane foam is a bottle with a special plastic tube that comes with the product itself. To start working with such material, you just need to connect the tube to the built-in valve and press gently to get the required amount of foam. This method is suitable even for those who have never encountered a similar tool before. To fill small gaps or holes in the wall, it is enough to purchase a can of household foam.
The professional foam cylinder has a special thread onto which a gun equipped with a dispenser is screwed. This tool makes it possible to distribute the sealant as accurately as possible to the work area. Typically, there is enough foam for a large amount of work. The material is consumed sparingly, which cannot be said about household polyurethane foam, which tends to run out very quickly in the cylinder. In addition, an unused semi-professional sealant can be safely thrown away, even if more than half of the material remains in the bottle, because after several hours in the open form, it hardens inside and cannot be used further.
The professional foam canister is reusable. The dispensing gun and cylinder valve can be flushed with a special solvent and continue to work with the agent at a different time. This advantage allows you to evenly distribute the workflow. It is much more convenient to use the dispenser, because with the help of a pistol you can get a uniform stream of foam, which will not contain an excess amount of the product. For example, to fix a plastic window, you need to use only one cylinder of professional foam, taking into account the use of a special gun. Using household polyurethane foam, you will have to spend three cylinders at once.
How to choose polyurethane foam
The choice of polyurethane foam depends primarily on the conditions in which it will be sprayed and used. For domestic use, a universal option is suitable. For fire-hazardous premises, all materials used, including insulating ones, must be fire-resistant. And to install the frame in the cold, you need to decide which winter foam for windows is best, and check the range of its operating temperatures.
- Productivity and output volume;
- Ease of application;
- Operating temperature range;
- The quality of heat and sound insulation properties;
- Secondary expansion rate;
- Uniformity and density of texture;
- Value for money;
- Opportunity to buy in popular stores;
- Buyability level.
It is also important for the household user to have an applicator, and for professionals it will be more important to be able to use a cylinder with a gun.