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New Generation Foam to Revolutionise the Building Industry / LEE PRICE
Swansea University Author: LEE PRICE
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DOI (Published version): 10.23889/SUthesis.66044
Abstract
With the ongoing focus on improving energy efficiency and reducing carbon emissions tomitigate the effects of anthropogenic climate change, the demand for effective building insulation is likely to increase in the coming years. Polyisocyanurate foams are widely used insulation materials due to their...
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Swansea University, Wales, UK
2024
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| Institution: | Swansea University |
| Degree level: | Doctoral |
| Degree name: | EngD |
| Supervisor: | Holliman, P.; Mabbett, I.; and Lloyd, J. |
| URI: | https://cronfa.swan.ac.uk/Record/cronfa66044 |
| Abstract: |
With the ongoing focus on improving energy efficiency and reducing carbon emissions tomitigate the effects of anthropogenic climate change, the demand for effective building insulation is likely to increase in the coming years. Polyisocyanurate foams are widely used insulation materials due to their excellent thermal insulation performance, but a number of fire incidents involving building cladding comprising these materials, notably the Grenfell Tower tragedy, have raised questions over the safety of such materials. In addition, the long-term effects of fire retardants on human health and the environment have also come under increasedscrutiny.In this thesis, a detailed analysis of the high-temperature degradation of polyisocyanuratefoams has been conducted, bringing together a range of thermal analysis techniques to produce a more comprehensive picture of the behaviour of these materials at extreme temperatures.Comparative thermal analysis of a range of polyisocyanurate formulations has been conducted and a number of non-halogenated fire retardants, being ammonium polyphosphate, expandable graphite and a proprietary phosphorus-based reactive flame retardant, have been evaluated for their efficacy in polyisocyanurate foam systems during the pyrolytic preignition phase of foam degradation. These agents have been found to induce a substantial decrease in the pyrolytic mass loss of polyisocyanurate foams and indicate the potential for the development of polyisocyanurate insulation systems with improved fire safety characteristics. The findings of this thesis strongly support further research in this subject area, as the availability of safe andeffective insulation materials offers clear social, environmental and economic benefits. |
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| Keywords: |
Materials, Polymers, Insulation, Fire |
| College: |
Faculty of Science and Engineering |