14Apr
2020
virotech   /    Blog, Insulation and Thermal Barriers, Sound Deadening Materials, Specialty Coatings, Spray Foam   /    0 comment

Is Spray Foam Insulation Really ‘Green’?

According to the International Organization for Standardization (IOS) the term is too vague to be meaningful. The US Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA) agrees, but only to a point. The USEPA created the international Energy Star program in an attempt to provide the manufacturers of goods with a voluntary labeling system for promoting energy efficient products.

In the 1990’s when the program was started, it was only applied to appliances and electronics. However, today entire homes and home offices are able to gain Energy Star certification. The only criteria is the building must use 15% less energy than a standard home built to the 2004 International Residential Code. How does a home achieve that rating? The things at the top of the list for getting an Energy Star rating are not surprising: insulation, high performance windows, tight construction and ducting, energy efficient cooling and heating systems and Energy Star certified products (appliances, lighting, water heaters).

Now, in reference to insulation specifically, its efficiency is measured according to R-value. An R-value is a mathematical calculation which produces the level of thermal resistance a building has. For the average North American home insulated with traditional fiberglass batts, R-value sits at between 3.1 and 4.3 per square inch. Blown in fiberglass insulation has a typical R-value between 2 and 4 per square inch. According to the US Department of Energy, the same home insulated with spray foam polyurethane insulation will have an R-value between 7 and 8 per square inch. Clearly a home insulated with spray foam would be well on its way to achieving an Energy Star rating, even without installing LED lighting and thermal windows.

When a building is insulated with polyurethane foam, the costs of heating and cooling will undoubtedly be vastly reduced. Many spray foam manufacturers report that energy costs can be reduced by up to 40%; a claim that is both highly likely and easily attainable. With such a diminished use of energy, there is less demand for petroleum-based products and fossil fuels, resulting in a smaller carbon footprint being left on our planet.

We are halfway to answering our title question, is spray foam insulation really green? Now we know its immense potential for energy savings, but what about the manufacture of the foam itself? In the case of spray foam, the two substances that come together to produce the foam must remain separate until the time of application. Those two things are polyol (a naturally occurring alcohol) and diisocyanate (a group of organic compounds derived from plant and animal materials). When they are brought together with water, an exothermic reaction takes place producing the polyurethane foam. Although the foam is produced from organic substances, it does not breakdown over time – a good thing for insulation applications, but where does it go when it is no longer needed?

14Apr
2020
virotech   /    Blog, Insulation and Thermal Barriers, Sound Deadening Materials, Spray Foam   /    0 comment

The Environmental Truth on Polyurethane Foam

So many people seeking a wholly organic and environmentally friendly lifestyle automatically assume any material with a chemical sounding name will cause them harm. Yet that is a notion that is so inaccurate, it is almost laughable. According to the Polyurethane Foam Association, polyurethane is produced as a result of the reaction of two organic materials: polyol (a naturally occurring alcohol) and diisocyanate (groups of isocyanates from plant or animal matter), together with water.

When the reaction takes place bubbles form and the substance expands, almost like the process of baking a pound cake. Various measures of each ingredient or different methods of mixing will produce varied consistencies and densities of foam. Some forms are hard like plastic, others are extremely soft. Depending on the density and presence of elastomers, polyurethane foam is formed into everyday materials such as all manner of fabric coatings and synthetic fibers. The durability of the foam and ability to be impervious to moisture, translates into an excellent material for outsoles and midsoles of footwear. Low density and flexible foams are perfect for bedding and upholstery.

Rigid polyurethane foam that is so high in density it becomes a plastic, is used for casting structural parts for buildings. The small bezels in jewelry, watches and electronic instruments are made from more dense foam. Foam that is rigid and reasonably compact can be easily formed into specific shapes using molds. Therefore expanding foam is very popular in the construction industry for use as structural foam, particularly for a building facade. The vehicle industry makes use of polyurethane foam in the vehicle fascia and the protective ‘skin’ of the interior surfaces, such as the dashboard. Let’s also not forget how expanding foam insulation is used in a spray form and as a highly efficient insulating material in buildings and vehicles. Millions of dollars in energy costs are saved every year, but billions more may be saved by a wider use of spray foam insulation in residential and commercial applications.

Alright, so we know what polyurethane foam can be used for, but what about sustainability? Let us first address the insulation factor. By reducing the heating and cooling costs for every structure, in both residential and commercial buildings, permanent and modular greenhouse gases can be significantly diminished. Mining and transportation of fuel is reduced, as are all the activities related to energy consumption. As a moisture resistant material, polyurethane spray foam insulation also prevents mold and moisture damage to structures, thus reducing the unnecessary use of raw materials for repairs.

One of the largest misconceptions regarding expanding is in its manufacturing process. Since the end product is not an organic material, many believe the foam is created in an environmentally harmful manner. In truth, polyurethane foam is created through an exothermic reaction that requires very little energy or water. That means the polyol and the diisocyanate releases its own energy through the naturally occurring chemical reaction, negating the need for a further ‘push’ via mechanical means to produce the end product. This natural process also means there are no off-gasses from the cured foam.

14Apr
2020
virotech   /    Blog, Class A Fire Rated Products, Specialty Coatings   /    0 comment

Waterborne Technology is Environmentally-Friendly Paint

Recently, the development of technologies that relates with paint is developing very fast. In fact, the trendy generation brings paint with waterborne technology. This product incorporates more factors of water which include for the dilution functions as an alternative of toxic compounds together with paint thinner in it that can purpose the damage to environment.

However, it does no longer mean waterborne did not use paint thinner in the whole production technique. But the awareness and the quantity of use is decreased if it in comparison with using paint thinner in traditional merchandise.

Therefore, the combination of paint that carries water with a excessive solid gadget is the aggregate of several chemicals that contained within the paint can reduce the quantity of toxic solvents that is used. The new device is likewise very environmentally friendly inclusive of the coating procedure, coat base, and also coat.

Paint that carries greater water should be heated in a temperature between 5 to 30 ranges Celsius. Even for a better end result required the heating technique till the temperature 20 tiers Celsius. The process is slightly more complicated than using traditional paint.

Recently, this machine has been developing a technique of portray with oven, and can put off some obstacles. For example, to combine paint within the oven you ought to be carefully before painting. Moreover, it can additionally be used infrared method, in order that the paint that is diluted with water without a doubt may be dried with ease.

This product formulated to be friendly with water. Therefore, pigment-binding method is considered one of examples that may be performed effortlessly. This process can be imagined as mixing paint for the purposes of drawing water. But the quit of result is almost exactly identical as oil paint, which extra effective and easily to coat the vibrant metal. Because of it’s far effortlessly soluble in water, the alternative chemical solvent needed in the system of portray as a whole may be very small, about 10 percentage in comparison to the usage of conventional paint.

On the idea of portray technique with traditional merchandise required 85 percent of toxic solvents. But, by using this new type of paint, the opposite chemical solvents compounds that required the simplest ten percent.

Automotive producer Audi in Germany has additionally made studies to refine those findings. The development includes the technique of water dissolving immediately mixed in the movement at a unique field whilst sprayed. This additionally consists of the using of the modern ultra filter gadget.

The manner is the water from the paint accumulated in 250,000-liter tank before cleaning the pollution and other toxic chemicals. After that the water is recycled into the portray circuit. In other words, to fill the water circuit, also required the water. It method that the whole method of painting is now not the handiest guaranteed of environmentally pleasant, but additionally very economical, due to the fact the water may be recycled.

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