Use of Phenolic Foam Insulation for Solar Energy Applications

  Phenolic foam insulation properties: this article discusses the question: is phenolic foam insulation suitable for solar energy installations?

Indoor use of phenolic foam insulating materials in solar energy systems

Sketch at page top and accompanying text are reprinted/adapted/excerpted with permission from Solar Age Magazine - editor Steven Bliss.

The question-and-answer article about the indoor use of phenolic insulating foam found just below paraphrases, quotes-from, updates, and comments an original article from Solar Age Magazine and written by Steven Bliss.

Are Phenolic Foam Insulation Board Products Suitable for Solar Energy Products or Designs?

We wish to obtain information about manufacturing sources for phenolic insulation materials. As this material is rated as high as 500 degF. in temperature range, it may well suit a specific solar application that we have. -- J.I. Osias, Solar Builders, Cheshire CT.

Answer:

Phenolic foams, like polyurethanes and isocyanurates, are closed-cell insulations with entrapped Freon gas [or by current standards, non-freon gases]. A chief attraction of phenolics is that they can withstand high temperatures and will not support flames (though they can be consumed) in a fire.

Typically, phenolic foams can tolerate continuous temperatures in the 300 degF to 350 degF range, with intermittent use up to 400 degF. Above that temperature, oxidation is likely to occur and render the phenolic foam insulating boards brittle. Outgassing of Freon or its replacement gases at high temperatures should be less of a problem than with other refrigerant-gas blown foams. In general, the phenolics are very stable chemically and dimensionally.

The main problems with phenolic foams reported in the 1980's were their relatively low compressive and flexural strength and their friability or tendency to crumble. Continual improvements in the formulations of phenolic foam board insulation products may overcome these drawbacks.

Facings on the foam insulating board can also help, but at the time of the original Solar Age article (August 1984) no one had successfully foamed phenolics between foil facings. At that time Koppers Co. was about to release a foil-faced phenolic foam insulation called Exeltherm Xtra residential insulation. At R-8.2 per inch, that foam would have had the highest R-value of any residential insulation. See INSULATION R-VALUES & PROPERTIES for current R-values.

40’ HQ Container :  Standard size: 3950/2950 × 1200 × 20mm, 10 sheets packed in on carton, total 660 sheets               (3950mm) / 880 sheets (2950mm).

       20’ GP Container :  Standard size: 2900 × 1200 × 20mm, 10 sheets packed in one carton, total 400 sheets.