History of Spray Foam Insulation

The rising cost of energy has created a demand for insulation products that exceed traditional insulation products, such as fiberglass batt. Building envelopes with increased insulation levels are becoming standard practice as homeowners demand better building products to be used to construct their homes. Spray foam insulation is an alternative to traditional building insulation such as fiberglass. A two-component mixture composed of Isocyanate and resin comes together at the tip of a gun, and forms an expanding foam that is sprayed onto roof Sheathing, concrete slabs, into open wall cavities.

History of Spray Foam
Polyurethane, the most common type of spray foam insulation, was developed and used by the military in the 1940s and applied to airplanes. It wasn't until the 1970s that it started to be used as foam insulation.

Various systems are used to apply the spray foam. The two component high pressure system is generally used in new home construction. It is a quick expanding type of spray foam.

Types of Spray Foam
Spray foam insulation can be categorized into two different types: open cell and closed cell.

Closed-Cell Foam Insulation
Closed cell foam insulation is a much more dense type of foam than open cell. It has a smaller, more compact cell structure. It is a very good air barrier as well as a water vapor barrier. It is often used in roofing projects or other outdoor applications, but can be used anywhere in the home.

Open-Cell Foam Insulation
Open cell is a type of foam where the tiny cells are not completely closed. open cell is less expensive because it uses less chemicals. It is a very good air barrier but does not provide any type of water vapor barrier. It is much more sponge like in appearance. It is often used for interior walls because it provides an optimum sound barrier. It is not recommended for outdoor applications.

Credit: http://www.Wikipedia.org