Profflex polyurethane foam: pros and cons

Polyurethane foam is used during construction or repair work, installation of window and door structures, for fixing sheet materials, sealing pipes. It has found wide application in improving the sound and thermal insulation of construction sites. Sometimes foam is used to create decorative elements for interiors, exteriors and landscapes. This building material produces many domestic and foreign manufacturers, among which the leading position in sales of products rightfully belongs to the company Profflex.

Polyurethane foam - a type of polyurethane sealant, which contains the main and additional components. The main components are polyol and isocyanate. The additional ones include stabilizing and catalyzing agents, blowing agents.

Profflex manufactures one-component polyurethane sealants manufactured in aerosol cans. The materials are easy to use: when you hold the button on the dispenser or canister, the mass is pushed out. Next, the expansion of the foam occurs, thereby ensuring the filling of air voids and gaps. When exposed to moisture of the environment mass is polymerized.

The process of curing the material is directly dependent on humidity. The higher it is, the less time it takes to harden the sealant. Because of this feature, before applying the composition, experts recommend to pre-moisten the working surface with water.

Profflex manufactures and sells an extensive line of mounting foams. They can be used in different conditions, have different properties or differ in the method of application.

Profflex polyurethane foams are domestic and professional. The first are designed for minor construction or repair work. A plastic guide tube is attached to all household sealants through which the polymerized mass is fed.

Professional tools are available in specialized cylinders with a device for installing a gun dispenser. Such materials are often used by installation companies for large-scale work. Professional and household foams differ in some technical parameters. For example, the secondary expansion of a simple sealant is higher than that of a professional. Due to this feature, experts do not recommend the use of household foam for high-precision construction manipulations.

In addition, polyurethane sealants can be of several types.

1. Summer. They are used only at positive ambient temperatures.
2. In the winter. Such tools are composed of special components that increase the rate of mass polymerization in conditions of negative temperatures and low humidity. They are recommended to be used in a wide temperature range from -20 to + 35 degrees.
3. Universal or all-season. They are permissible to use, regardless of the season.

And also foams are subdivided into combustible and fireproof. The latter of them are often used to install fireproof door structures.When exposed to fire, they do not emit harmful substances, do not melt and do not burn for 240 hours.

Profflex company is a manufacturer of mounting foams that produces sealants for various types of work. The product range is extensive.

Consider the most popular materials for construction and repair work.

• Firestop 65. Fire-resistant, professional, one-component composition, designed to seal air gaps at sites where increased requirements for fire safety. All-season sealant is used both at positive and at sub-zero temperatures. Possesses high adhesion. The primary polymerization time is at least 10 minutes.
• Fire Block OL. Fireproof sealant for professional use. The material is able not to melt and not to burn when exposed to fire for 240 minutes. The single-component composition of the FireBlock belongs to the all-season class, due to which it does not change its qualities when operating in conditions of sub-zero temperatures and low humidity.

• Pro Red Plus Winter. Single component winter material used at temperatures from -18 to 35 degrees. Foam has found wide application when installing doors and windows, filling voids, crevices and joints. It can be used as heat or sound insulator. The output of the finished mass from 1 cylinder is about 65 liters.
• Storm Gun 70. The industrial structure having an exit of 70 liters. The material contains a substance that slows down the burning. It is applied only at positive temperatures. Differs in high adhesion to the majority of materials. It can be used at low air humidity. Full polymerization of the composition occurs 12 hours after application.

Profflex polyurethane foams are high-quality materials that have both advantages and disadvantages that must be examined before purchasing them.

First, we list all the advantages of the sealant.

• High rates of adhesion to stone, concrete, wood, metal, glass, plastic and other types of surfaces.
• Fire resistance This property is due to the ability of the material not to conduct electric current.
• Rapid polymerization of the applied mass. Basically, it will take 3-7 hours to completely dry the foamy mass. Time may be increased due to low humidity or negative temperatures.
• Lack of pungent odor.

• Low porosity.
• Resistant to moisture.
• Ease of use. Even an unprepared person can use assembly foam.
• Affordable price segment.

Mounting foams are not ideal. Like all products for repair and construction, they have some drawbacks. To one of the minuses include the fear of ultraviolet radiation. When exposed to the sun, the polymerized sealant changes color and begins to crumble, which leads to a loss of tightness of the seam. And also the applied foam can collapse at sudden temperature changes.

In addition to the above, the disadvantages include the harmfulness of foam.

Profflex is positioned by consumers as a reliable manufacturer of high-quality mounting foams.

Home craftsmen and professional builders prefer this particular product due to a number of reasons:

• extensive temperature range of use;
• high adhesion;
• long shelf life.

Consumers say that the manufacturer offers an extensive line of polyurethane sealants, among which you can find a product to solve certain construction problems. Buyers also like the prevalence of the material: foam is sold both in hypermarkets and online stores, and in small hardware stores.

Analyzing reviews of the mounting foam, it can be concluded that Profflex sealants also have negative responses. For example, some consumers note low foam output (lower than stated by the manufacturer in the instructions). Also, customers complain about the lack of material in a small package.

The manufacturer attaches to each type of mounting foams the instruction, which describes in detail information on the rules for the use of sealant.

There is also a set of recommendations of professionals that must be followed when applying the material.

• It is necessary to use sealants only in accordance with the seasonality: to apply summer formulations in summer, in winter in winter. Do not violate the temperature regimes.
• Before using a cold cylinder, it is recommended to warm it up by lowering it into a container with hot water (up to 50 degrees) for a few seconds. Shake the can vigorously to quickly mix the components and provide a greater mass yield.
• The surfaces to be treated with foam must be prepared: remove debris, remove dust and degrease to ensure greater adhesion.

• When using a sealant, the cylinder is kept only upright with the valve down.
• Air gaps are filled only by 60-70%.
• When carrying out construction and repair work, it is important to consider that during the winter period the polymerization of the foamy mass is much slower than in the summer.
• Gloves and work clothing must be worn before using polyurethane sealant. If the compound comes into contact with the skin of the hands or clothing, special solvents should be used to remove impurities.

For comparison of other mounting foams with Profflex foam, see the following video.