A Review of Research on the Effect of Temperature on the Properties of Polyurethane Foams

Abstract

Temperature is one of the main factors affecting the properties of polyurethane foams, and there are large differences in the mechanical properties of polyurethane foams at different temperatures. To understand the effect of temperature on the mechanical properties of polyurethane foams and to provide a theoretical basis for the application of polyurethane foams in extreme environments, this paper systematically describes the research on the effect of mold temperature, raw material temperature, and environmental temperature on the microstructure and mechanical properties of polyurethane foams in the formation and service stages of rigid polyurethane foams by domestic and foreign scholars, and summarizes the effect of temperature on the mechanical properties of polyurethane foams and the mechanism of action. A review of the literature shows that the effect of different temperatures on the mechanical properties of polyurethane foams can be summarized. The literature review shows that there are certain changes in the foaming process, pore structure, and mechanical properties of polyurethane foams at different temperatures, and the increase in temperature generally leads to the increase in pore size, decrease in density, and decrease in mechanical properties of polyurethane foams.

X-ray Tomographic Reconstruction for Understanding Lignin-Induced Changes in the Microstructure and Properties of Polyurethane Insulation Foam

“…For example, the relationship between compressive strength and cell volume or strut size is undefined, although it is well known that smaller cell sizes give a stronger foam. 18,19 X-ray computed microtomography (X-ray μCT) imaging is an alternative non-destructive technique used to characterize foams, allowing precise 3D quantification of internal morphology such as the spatial parameters (cell porosity, cell volume, and cell orientation�ellipticity or anisotropy) and the skeletal parameters (cell strut and wall measurements and the volume of struts). 20−22 This technique has enabled monitoring structural changes in terms of cell parameters during mechanical property testing 23 and modeling thermal properties of various types (metallic/non-metallic) of cellular materials.…”

“…As a result, while there are many empirical structure–property relationships, it has not been possible to precisely correlate the 3D structure of RPUF with physical properties to date. For example, the relationship between compressive strength and cell volume or strut size is undefined, although it is well known that smaller cell sizes give a stronger foam. , …”