How long does the mounting foam dry. Setting time of mounting foam

In fact, the question "How long does the polyurethane foam dry?" placed completely wrong! The secret to converting a prepolymer into a strong polyurethane foam is how well it gets wet. It is from moisture that the rate of "drying" of the foam depends. Let's take a closer look.

Expansion coefficient - the main parameter

The value of this building material for the most part depends precisely on its ability to expand many times over. Household foam is able to expand up to 60% of its original volume, professional compositions have a much higher coefficient - up to 300%. Moreover, the same foam under different conditions can expand in completely different ways. The prepolymer is affected by temperature, air humidity, type of application, foam exit rate from the can. Yes, and different masters in the same room can have different results. On the packaging, manufacturers indicate the maximum yield of the polymer, but you should not strictly focus on it.

The expansion of the prepolymer during the process of exit from the balloon and solidification is divided into two types: primary and secondary. Primary expansion is called immediately after exiting the cylinder, secondary expansion lasts until the completion of the polymer transformation process. The secondary expansion of high-quality materials reaches 30%, which cannot be ignored when using them. It is usually enough to fill the gap by one third, so that in the end it is completely filled with polyurethane foam.

In addition to expansion, polyurethane foam can also shrink, although for quality products this shrinkage is rarely 5%. If you observe a large shrinkage - alas, you have come across a very low-quality polyurethane. In this case, even a gap in the mass can happen, which in turn will entail a lot of other problems. Each master chooses foam according to his needs. A large expansion is important to someone, in such cases it will do Makroflex, Penosil GoldGun, Moment, Macrosil, when installing windows it is best to use Tytan- it gives optimal expansion and quickly hardens.

Characteristics of polyurethane foam - let's look at the details!

This sealant began to be used in the construction industry relatively recently, however, in this short time, polyurethane foam has almost completely replaced its former competitors. It is applied easily, is inexpensive, serves for many decades, has sound and heat insulating properties. Most often it is used to seal gaps between the doorway and the door frame during its installation, as well as when installing windows.

Expanding, the sealant fills all the voids, reliably “glues” the surfaces together, and when solidified, the polymer fixes the door frame or window. Foam is not afraid of precipitation and cold, it does not pass electricity and is not afraid of mold and fungus. The only drawback is the fear of ultraviolet radiation, however, often the material is applied at the stage of rough work, which is then hidden under a decorative layer of plaster.

Anyone who encounters this material quite often begins to pay attention to such parameters as:

• Porosity of polyurethane foam. The smaller the pores, the better - less plaster consumption and stronger material structure. The more closed pores on the surface, the better the material is - it will reliably retain heat inside the house.
• The volume of mounting foam. We are talking about the volume of the polymer after it hardens. It is important to remember that manufacturers indicate the volume based on standard climatic conditions: positive temperature, high humidity. In winter, the volume of finished foam from a cylinder of the same company can be half as much, and the company has nothing to do with it - low temperature and low air humidity are to blame. It should also be remembered that the yield of material from a cylinder used with a mounting gun is usually more , than from the option with a ready-made adapter, since manufacturers pump more gas into professional cylinders. The fact is that in household cylinders very often the gas runs out before the material, and this is money thrown away. Traditionally, cylinders have a capacity of 300 ml, 500 ml and 750 ml. A 300 ml can contains about 30 liters of foam, this is enough to close up a gap of up to 5 cm between one door frame and a doorway. If the gap is larger, it is recommended to reduce the width of the gap with a layer of foam or other similar material in order to save money. The output of foam from a 500 ml container is up to 40 liters, and from a 750 ml container - up to 50 liters. One 750 ml can is enough for two standard door frames.
• material adhesion. The very concept of "adhesion" means the ability of one material to stick together with another. In the case of polyurethane foam, the adhesion of the material is very high to almost any surface, except for cellophane, polyethylene and Teflon. Due to its high adhesion, this sealant is often used as an adhesive, especially when gluing PVC or foam boards. Rest assured, after complete hardening of the bonding panel, it will be possible to tear it off only with “meat”. High adhesion allows you to close even large gaps by applying the polymer in several layers. However, in such cases, do not skimp on the material - low-quality foam clings worse to the surface, falls down, and more is consumed. In a word, it is cheaper to buy the cylinder that is more expensive.
• Balloon quality. Both the design and quality of the cylinder can affect the final result. Firstly, high-quality products are equipped with reliable valves that easily return to their original position after being pressed, blocking air access and gas outlet. By the way, it is by the cylinders that you can determine what you are dealing with - with high-quality material or a cheap fake. Take two cylinders in the store for comparison - if the contents are of different quality, then you will feel it. The best tank will be heavier, and as you move, you will feel the contents slowly roll from side to side. In a cheap bottle, the prepolymer will hang around like sour yogurt.

How long does mounting foam dry - looking for the exact answer

As you already understood, polyurethane foam is a rather complicated material and has many nuances. As in the case of the expansion coefficient, which depends on many factors, answering the question “How long does the mounting foam harden?” Is quite difficult. First of all, it depends on the humidity.

Water is involved in the polymerization process of the prepolymer, in addition, the foam has increased adhesion to wet surfaces, which is why it is recommended to wet the cracks and openings with water before applying the foam.

If the humidity is normal, then 3 hours will be enough to solidify a five-centimeter layer, after which you can cut off the protruding pieces of polyurethane foam and apply plaster. The final polymerization will last much longer - from 7 to 12 hours. If the weather is frosty and dry, then the process can drag on for a day. It is this time that will be the final answer to the question “How long does the polyurethane foam “dry up””. In any case, if time permits, take your time, wait until everything hardens properly.

To speed up the hardening process, periodically spray the material or moisten in any way convenient for you. Remember that polymers are afraid of sunlight, so as soon as possible, paint over or plaster the surface that is in contact with ultraviolet light. The plastering process is in many ways similar to.

How long it will take to use the doors after they are installed depends on many factors, primarily on the means used to provide sealing at the junction of the door frame with the wall. Also, the rate of polymer hardening is affected by the state of the environment: temperature and humidity. The quality of the sealant is determined by its coefficient of expansion and adhesion, which is characterized by the adhesion forces of the foam to the surface.

Expansion factor

Polyurethane foam is valued for its ability to expand rapidly. Household types of this sealant can increase in volume by 60% of the original state. Professional foam has a higher expansion coefficient and doubles or even triples its original appearance. The coefficient of expansion may vary depending on the humidity and temperature of the environment in which the polymer is used, on the rate of withdrawal of the agent from the container, as well as on the method by which the foam is applied to the surface.
The polymer belongs to a dielectric building material, it is not afraid of either mold or fungus. The only damage to already hardened foam during operation can be ultraviolet radiation. If the sealant is used for outdoor work, it is recommended to cover it with finishing materials. Porosity is another important quality of the composition. The smaller the pores, the stronger the connection and the lower the consumption of the composition.
The volume of already frozen foam is also indicated on the cylinders. Manufacturers inform about these parameters taking into account normal conditions for use: positive temperature conditions and high humidity conditions. Foam, even of the highest quality, can shrink by half in a cold atmosphere.

Adhesion

An important characteristic of the sealant is adhesion, which means the ability to bond the composition to the surface. For a quality material, this unit of measurement should be high in relation to any building materials. Connection problems occur when you need to fix polyethylene or cellophane, or teflon.

The quality of the connecting material depends on the packaging. Good containers have durable and reliable valves that prevent the atmosphere from entering the cylinder and the excessive release of compressed gas from it.
A good quality can has more weight and, if turned upside down, you should feel how the contents move quietly and slowly in it.

How long does the foam dry

The hermetic agent is a rather complex building material. Characteristics and quality are ambiguous and depend on many things. The foam passes into a frozen state under the influence of its own data and the conditions of the environment in which it is used. The polymerization process depends, to a greater extent, on water. The higher the humidity, the faster the product hardens and the degree of adhesion increases. Professionals recommend wetting the surfaces of cracks and openings with water before starting to seal them.

If the humidity is high, then a five-centimeter layer of prepolymer will dry for about 3 hours. Then he gains the desired hardness for another 6-9 hours. At negative temperatures, this process stretches up to a day. Builders with experience do not recommend rushing to finish the already foamed holes and crevices. The sealant must be given time for maximum solidification in order to gain strength: in summer - a day, in winter - a day and a half. In order for the material to harden faster, it must be moistened periodically. The main thing is to remember that the polymer does not tolerate solar radiation.

Sealant selection and market analysis

The use of high-quality and reliable building materials is the key to a successful repair. In order to seal cracks, holes, seams at a professional level, a product must be selected with high operational and technical data.

In the construction markets you can find a large number of different mounting foam. Experts recommend paying attention to the following brands of products:

1. "Moment Montage". A well-known brand, with well-deserved popularity, is sold in all construction stores. Differs in density of a homogeneous consistence, high adhesion almost to any materials. It can be used both indoors and outdoors. Minus - secondary growth, as a result of which, with a large amount of foam used, the sealed seams may be deformed.
2. Makroflex. One of the best brands. Can be used for both winter and summer. The foam has a uniform structure, perfectly adheres to any surfaces, secondary growth is minimal. The disadvantages include market defects in cylinders that do not work for long. Then either only gas comes out of them, or just a sealant.
3. Soudal. Not a very well-known company that produces quality products. The market offers options for polymers for work in winter and for summer work. Winter species are suitable even at 20-degree frosts. All products have good adhesion, little overgrowth, little shrinkage. Foam also reacts poorly to the sun.
4. Penosil. High-quality hermetic means of a dense consistence. The secondary expansion is almost absent, it is distinguished by large exit sizes. Effective for indoor use, not suitable for outdoor use. Temperatures below minus 4 and above plus 35 completely discredit him.
5. "Titan 02". The most famous brand of professional polyurethane foam. It has a relatively low cost, has excellent performance properties, a high degree of adhesion, and a dense consistency. Suitable for use in various conditions.

Conclusion

There is no perfect hermetic agent. Every professional knows that any material is characterized by both positive and negative properties. In order for the result of the work performed to be desirable, you need to carefully select the product and use it in accordance with the instructions from the manufacturer.

No construction site can do without mounting foam. This amazing material adheres to various surfaces, and also has good sound and heat insulation, the ability to seal hard-to-reach places. How long it dries Before you know the answer, you need to familiarize yourself with its composition and main types.

Composition

Mounting foam is a one-component sealant based on polyurethane. It is in great demand, because without it it is impossible to install doors, windows, as well as various repair processes. It is very convenient to work with the material, since no mechanisms or energy sources are needed. It does not matter which foam ("Macroflex", "Titan", etc.) is used - it penetrates into all cavities and completely hardens in a few hours.

It is supplied in bottles as a liquid prepolymer and propellant. After the release of the contents, the start of which is responsible for the moisture in the air and on the treated surface.

Specifications

Before you figure out how much mounting foam dries, you need to familiarize yourself with its amazing characteristics.

Varieties

Depending on the method of application, the foam is professional and household. According to the temperature of use, it is divided into summer, winter and all-weather. The professional composition is different in that it is applied with a gun (there are special valves on the cylinder). Why is it called professional? Because the gun costs much more than foam (10 times), and it makes no sense to purchase it for one-time use (used only by professionals).

Mounting foam (characteristics are presented above) for domestic use is used without any devices. To spray it, you will need a special tube, which is present on each cylinder.

Summer foam can be applied on surfaces whose temperature is +50...+350 degrees. The working temperature of the winter material is from -180 to +350 degrees. At the same time, its volume after application and expansion decreases with decreasing temperature. All-weather foam has the best qualities of summer and winter options. It allows you to work at low temperatures with a greater output and fast solidification.

How is the mounting foam used and how long does it take to dry?

It is considered an amazing insulating material that is created specifically for:

• filling cracks in rooms without heating, roofing;
• filling gaps around various pipes, doors and windows;
• fixing doors and windows without additional fasteners;
• attaching thermal insulation materials to walls;
• sound insulation of pipes, air conditioners, hoods, etc.;
• wide application in the repair of premises;
• filling gaps in boats, rafts, etc.

In order for the material to perform its functions well and serve as long as possible, it is necessary:

• close seams and cracks up to 80 mm wide (large gaps are first filled with boards, bricks);
• spray the surface with water for better adhesion (before and after application);
• shake the bottle before work and keep it upside down;
• fill the gap incompletely (by 1/2 or 2/3), which reduces the consumption of mounting foam;
• cut off excess after polymerization (full hardening time - 24 hours);
• protect the surface from the sun with any paint;
• use only high-quality products of a well-known brand.

Consumption

Cylinders with a 750 ml formulation typically have a yield of 50 liters. But this does not mean that they can fill a fifty-liter container. The foam is considered unstable due to the large number of bubbles. Under its own weight, the lower layers burst in it, as a result of which the volume decreases. In this regard, a fifty-liter output is considered a conditional norm, which is true when filling gaps no more than 20 mm wide.

Each cylinder is filled with polyurethane in solvent and liquefied filler gas, which, after reaction with open air, occupies a space of 50 liters. Be aware that volume reduction may occur if the material is used at low temperatures. As a result, the consumption of mounting foam indicated on the label corresponds to reality only under ideal conditions.

How to choose

Before choosing a material, you need to decide on the conditions in which the work will be performed. It is also important what it will be used for: for sealing, soundproofing, insulation or installation. When buying, you should pay attention to who made the mounting foam. Customer reviews recommend paying attention to the brands Titan, Soudal, Penosil, Makroflex.

As for the structures, for example, any foam is suitable for plastic windows, but you will have to decide on the characteristics. It is best to apply the material with a gun, but for a one-time use, you can stop on a plastic tube. If you have to process large spaces, you should choose professional compositions in massive cylinders.

Content

Polyurethane foam belongs to the group of sealing agents, without which it is impossible to do without during the construction process. It is used in cases where it is necessary to seal seams / joints of more than 3 cm. You can often stumble upon the question “How long does the mounting foam dry”, but it turns out that it is not quite correctly posed. The fact is that the secret of turning the prepolymer into a strong polyurethane foam lies in the degree of its wetting.

Expansion factor

The main feature of the described building material is its ability to expand several times. If we talk about household foam, then its coefficient of increase in volume reaches 60%, in professional compositions it can be all 300%

Attention! Identical varieties of material can behave very differently, and this is determined by environmental conditions. We are talking about the air temperature, its humidity, the type of application, the speed with which the foam composition leaves the container. Manufacturers always indicate overestimated output volume indicators, but you should not be guided only by them.

Before you figure out how long the mounting foam dries, consider its types. It can be primary, i.e. the prepolymer begins to expand immediately upon application to the surface. As the name implies, the secondary expansion lasts throughout all stages of the transformation of a high-molecular compound. This should always be remembered when using such building materials.

The ability to expand is not the only characteristic. How much mounting foam dries in an apartment sometimes depends on the degree of its shrinkage, which rarely reaches 5%. If this happens, then most likely you are using low-quality materials. Be prepared for the fact that a mass break may even occur. Each master selects the best option for himself, taking into account his needs. If the degree of expansion is in the first place for you, then Macroflex, Moment, GoldGan, Macrosil products are suitable.

Detailed description of the sealant

Interesting! This type of sealant in the construction industry began to be used recently, but despite this, it quickly replaced its competitors.

The advantages of polyurethane foam include:

• easy application;
• affordability;
• durability.

At first it was said that water plays a major role in the process of sealant hardening. It is under its influence that the level of adhesion increases, so experts recommend pre-wetting the working surfaces. If you are interested in how much mounting foam dries when installing doors, then keep in mind that this indicator is affected by the thickness of the layer and the air temperature. With optimal performance, completely dried excess pieces of material can be cut off after 3 hours, and proceed with the plaster. As for the final polymerization, it lasts for another 12 hours. In conditions of cold and dry weather, the process can be delayed for an indefinite amount of time. One thing is for sure, that it is possible to proceed to the next stage of work only after the porous mixture has completely solidified.

If you are not satisfied with how long the mounting foam dries when installing windows, you can speed up the process. To do this, periodically spray the sealant (moisten it in any way convenient for you). Do not forget that despite the many advantages, mounting foam is afraid of sunlight, so at the first opportunity it must be protected from them by plastering.

Do not forget about precautions, this will avoid unpleasant consequences.

Polyurethane foam is actively used in construction due to its ability to get into hard-to-reach places, provide good sealing and isolation from extraneous sounds. In order for it to be able to show all its properties when installing doors, it is necessary to correctly calculate the time for its drying. About how much mounting foam dries when installing doors and its other “secrets”, read on.

What you need to know about mounting foam

Polyurethane foam - one-component polyurethane sealant. This substance is actively used in the installation of windows, doors and other repair work. Regardless of the brand of the product, it tends to get into all the cracks, and after just a few hours it completely hardens.

Specifications

In construction stores, the product is available in the form of liquid formulations and gas cylinders to displace them. The capacity of the cylinders can be 300, 500 and 750 ml. To seal a classic doorway with a space between the box and the wall of 5 cm, a cylinder with a capacity of only 300 ml should be enough.

Mounting foam for sealing joints is also sold in a 0.85 liter can. Such a volume is convenient for those who carry out the insulation of walls or ceilings - or for other purposes, for the implementation of which you need to foam everything and a lot at once.

The general characteristics of the vast majority of the varieties of compositions offered by the domestic manufacturer are the following points:

• The ability to resist fire is not less than B3.

Note: And this is not good, since such a class answers eloquently the question: “Does the mounting foam burn after drying?”. Yes, it burns, and how! If such a characteristic is so important for you, then it is best to use fire-fighting compounds that also burn, but less intensely and prevent the spread of fire, for example, like Titan B1.

• Heat conductivity - 0.036 W.
• The probability of rupture during material tension is 13/17%.
• Flat surface shear strength - 90/40 kPa.
• The appearance of foam on the surface. Dry - 130/30%, wet - 200/80%.
• Hygroscopicity - 0.3%.
• Temperature conditions for use range from -40 to +90°C.
• The processing time is 60-45 minutes.
• Surface adhesion: Good adhesion to wood, metal, plastic and glass. Poor adhesion to polyethylene, silicone and similar surfaces.
• Reaction to direct sunlight. The foam is destroyed by direct exposure to ultraviolet rays, so protective substances are applied to the material layer.
• Primary expansion - the ability of the foam to fill empty areas at the start of application.

Note! Secondary expansion refers to the negative qualities of the product. With improper use and inaccurate compliance with the necessary conditions, the foam can significantly expand in volume, violating the overall organic construction process.

Properties

For the successful implementation of work, the essence of which is to fill empty areas, insulate rooms, install doors, windows and implement sound insulation, mounting foam must have the following quality properties:

1. Good elasticity for uniform distribution of the substance on the surface of the voids.
2. Low shrinkage readings.
3. When placing materials on a foaming surface, it must have high bonding characteristics of materials.
4. Resistance to temperature changes and other factors of external influence on the material.

Most of the products on the market have these properties, but there are also products produced by unscrupulous manufacturers. Such products are of poor quality and are not suitable for responsible repair work.

When purchasing such a product, after using it, you can seriously wonder why the mounting foam crumbles immediately after hardening, and then it is fragile, like porcelain.

Remember, a good quality product cannot be cheap, because in order to achieve such a level, you have to spend a lot on modernizing production, purchasing good raw materials and hiring first-class specialists. And all this is invested in the final cost.

In order to purchase quality material, we recommend that you request a product quality certificate from the seller. In case of refusal to provide a document, you need to doubt its quality and refuse to purchase an incomprehensible product. Or simply, purchase already proven brands, for example, "Macroflex" or "Titan".

How the foam is used

Tender, like marshmallows - but this is not for long, after hardening it turns into a real cracker

Polyurethane foam is one of the most important products used in construction for diverse work.

These include:

• filling large cracks in unheated rooms;
• sealing holes in pipes, walls, windows and doors;
• installation of windows and doors and their adhesion to a brick or concrete surface;
• attaching materials that serve to insulate heat to the wall;
• sound insulation of pipes, hoods and other elements;
• repair work in the rooms;
• sealing holes in the boat, etc.

But, and of course, it’s better not to even think about such an application, as shown in the photo above (or about something similar). And then you have to shoot all this extravagant beauty along with a scalpel. And here the question is not how long the mounting foam hardens, but how to get rid of it as soon as possible with minimal losses.

Drying time of mounting foam

And, let's move on to the most interesting thing, for the sake of which we are here today - what should be the drying time of the mounting foam to such a state that it is possible to use the elements of the entire, let's say, immured system, without damaging its parts.

Firstly, how long the mounting foam dries depends on the size of the crack. Secondly, on temperature conditions, and thirdly, on the humidity of the room.

Note! At a high level of humidity, the foam hardens faster than in a dry room. Many craftsmen prefer to wet the cracks with water before applying the foam to them to improve the adhesion of the product to the surface.

Professional polyurethane foam, placed in a 3 cm crack, hardens within half an hour, and it takes about an hour for household foam to harden for such a gap. Complete drying of the material takes about a day.

If the room is humid and warm, the full curing of the foam can occur twice as fast, namely 12 hours after application.

Periodic spraying or watering will help speed up the drying process of the mounting foam. After the material has dried, cut off the excess protruding particles and cover it with plaster or any other compound that will protect the foam from harmful contact with direct ultraviolet rays.

Note! The drying time of the mounting foam to a greater extent depends on the humidity of the air in the room. So, with a decrease in air temperature, humidity also decreases, which leads to a slowdown in the drying process of the foam. In a dry room, the complete drying of the composition will take approximately 24 hours. If the foam was used at low temperatures, and even in humid conditions, for example, outdoors in the fall, then this interval can double, if not triple.

Average consumption

The output of cylinders with a volume of 0.75 liters is 50 liters. This figure is not so great if we take into account the properties of the foam: under the influence of its weight, it settles, and the bubbles at the bottom of the solution burst.

This leads to a reduction in the volume of material. Given these characteristics, fifty liters of cylinder output is enough to fill cracks 2 cm in size.

Each cylinder contains a certain amount of polyurethane with a solvent and a special gas, which occupies 50 liters of space after contact with air. With the later drying of the mounting foam, this gas is released to the outside.

When using the product in low temperature conditions, it must be taken into account that its volume will noticeably decrease. Therefore, the volume of the product indicated on the package will exactly correspond to the indicated figure only if the ideal conditions for working with polyurethane foam are met.

5 conditions that will help you choose mounting foam for "home" and professional work

In order to get acquainted with the purchased product, it is necessary to conduct its initial testing before carrying out serious work.

To do this, you need to know the following indicators of product quality:

• The consistency of the composition should be a set of closed cells, which are covered with a thin film on top. The shrinkage of the foam must not exceed 5%.
• It is necessary to pay attention to the foam output in the purchased cylinder. So, the foam output in a 750 ml bottle is only 50 liters, and this may not be enough for large volumes of work. In home repair work, a foam output of 50-60 liters should be enough, and in professional conditions, most often they prefer to purchase products with a volume of 300% output.
• The viscosity of the composition. The chemical compounds that make up the foam form a single consistency, which should have its own standard for repair work, namely, it should not be too liquid.
• Adhesion of the mounting material to other substances. To do this, apply it to wood, stone or concrete. Silicone and polyethylene surfaces are not suitable for testing, as they obviously do not provide normal adhesion.
• Pay attention to the ease of use of the balloon and its type. It is also important to calculate the amount of mixture that will remain at the bottom after the repair.

It is necessary to investigate the substance under suitable conditions - namely, at a temperature of 5 to 30 degrees Celsius. It is important to provide the room with a suitable level of humidity. So, by experience, you can independently deduce how much mounting foam of one brand or another freezes. If these recommendations are not followed, the quality characteristics of the purchased mixture may noticeably decrease.

At the same time, when testing how long the mounting foam dries, do not forget about compliance with safety regulations. You need to wear a protective suit and prevent foam from getting into your eyes. Otherwise, the eyes should be washed out and a doctor should be consulted immediately.