Rigid plastic foams

The insulating value and mechanical properties of rigid plastic foams have led to the development of several novel methods of buUding constmction. Polyurethane foam panels may be used as unit stmctural components (220) and expanded polystyrene is employed as a concrete base in thin-sheU constmction (221). 

FERRIGNO, T. H., Rigid Plastics Foams, Reinhold, New York, 2nd Edn (1967)... 

Usually, different methods are recommended for each particular type of material (film, fabric, carpet, rigid plastic foam, elastoplastics, etc.) to characterize its flammability adequately. Test procedures are divided into small-, medium-, large- and real-scale experiments, depending on the sample size. 

In foundation insulation, rigid plastic foams are widely used. A covering over the foam provides protection against ultraviolet light and physical damage. The properties of extruded polystyrene foam make it a desirable insulation for foundation applications. 

Ferrigno, T.H, Rigid Plastic Foams (2nd Edition), Reinhold Publishing Corp., New York (1967). 

CFC-12 has been widely used also for producing rigid plastic foams. The characteristic example is the formation of foam sheets such as those used in white trays of the sort to package fresh meat products and in hamburger clamshell cartons used by fast-food restaurants. 

Table 7.17 Examplesof rigid plastic foam properties... 

Fig. 2.24 Oxygen indices of various rigid plastics foams as functions of temperature I phenol/formaldehyde foam filled with pearlite 2 modified closed-cell phenol/formaldehyde foam 3 polyisocyanuratc foam 4 polyurethane foam filled with pearlite 5 polyurethane foam 6 open-cell phenol/formaldehyde foam...

---