High Performance Plus User Benefits
Sample properties of an alpha-installation foam: SOUDAFOAM SMX® installation foam (manufacturer: Soudal)
| Color, consistency | White, firm foam (does not sag) |
| Curing | Initiated by atmospheric humidity at room temperature |
| Sliceable* | After approx. 1 hr (30-mm bead) |
| Full load-bearing capacity* | After approx. 24 hrs (30-mm bead) |
| Foam yield* | Approx. 16 l per liter if foaming is unhindered |
| Water uptake (DIN 53428) | < 1 vol% |
| Thermal conductivity (DIN 52612) |
0.033 W/m K |
| Temperature resistance | –40 °C to +90 °C |
| Building material class (DIN 4102 Part 1) |
B2 |
* At 20 °C and 65% relative humidity.
Installation foam based on alpha-technology swells less than conventional installation foam, has a fine-pored structure when cured, and is of uniform density throughout its structure.
Alpha-installation foams have been on the market for several years. Their properties are comparable to those of conventional polyurethane installation foams:
Good Adhesion
They adhere to all common surfaces – masonry, concrete, metal, PVC and polyurethane – and can be painted and plastered.
Rapid Curing
Thanks to the α-effect, the foam cures rapidly; a film forms after only a few minutes. Then the foam is no longer sticky. After an hour, it is dimensionally stable and can be cut. Because curing does not generate carbon dioxide, the foam swells less than polyurethane foam.
Perfect Foam
The cured foam has a fine-pored structure and is of uniform density throughout its structure. It absorbs only minimal quantities of moisture, but allows water vapor to penetrate.
High Thermal and Noise Insulation
Due to its good thermal- and noise-insulating properties and because it doesn't swell much, the foam can also be used to bond insulation panels.
Less Yellowing
The aging resistance of alpha-installation foams is just as good as that of conventional installation foams and they yellow even less.
Fire Protection Included
The currently available formulations comply with fire protection classes 3 and 2.
Safe Use
Curing of the foam under the influence of atmospheric humidity produces methanol. Methanol is acutely toxic, but only above a specific exposure limit. Below scientifically proven limits, methanol is harmless. The legal maximum workplace concentration (MAK value) for methanol is 200 ppm (parts per million). Standard measurements for α-silane foams show that if the foams are used correctly, the amount of methanol produced is nowhere near this limit, even under adverse conditions, i.e. poor ventilation. Good ventilation should, of course, be ensured, not least because of the flammable propane/butane propellants.
Reusable
To a certain extent, the spray cans can be kept once opened and reused at a later stage, since the alpha-installation foam doesn't clog up the valves easily.
Easy Disposal
Empty cans can be disposed of via the existing polyurethane foam can recycling system (PDR, www.pdr.de) or – another advantage of the new technology – via local disposal/packaging recovery systems, as it does not contain hazardous ingredients.
