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Excellent mechanical properties

The density of rigid polyurethane foam used for thermal insulation in buildings ranges between 30 kg/m³ and 100 kg/m³ depending on the application.

For special applications that are subject to extreme mechanical loads, the density of the PUR/PIR rigid foam can be increased to 700 kg/m³.

Even at low densities, polyurethane keeps excellent mechanical properties such as compressive stress, compressive strength and creep. These properties are essential in load bearing applications, such as floorings.

Long-term pressure curves of rigid polyurethane foam (PUR/PIR rigid foam insulation board, 33 kg/m³ with aluminium foil facing, long-term load 40 kPa, measured values after 2 and 5-year load period and extrapolation to 20 and 50 years)

If PUR/PIR rigid foam is used for thermal insulation in flat roofs, interior finishing or in the external thermal insulation composite system (ETICS), it is important to ensure that the composite structure remains intact with no breaks in the insulation layer. Tensile stress and shear strength are important in this respect.

Depending on the density, typical tensile stress values for PUR/PIR lie between 40 and 900 kPa, and shear strengths values between 120 and 450 kPa.