Open-celled polyurethane foam has a density of 8.3 pounds per cubic foot and a compressive strength of 295 to 325 psi. It is useful as a porous spacer in layered insulation and as an insulation material in vacuum tight systems

Russell, L. W.

English

NASA Technical Reports Server

.Foam Insulating Block 
September 1970	 Brief 70-10349 
.
NASA TECH BRIEF H 
NASA Tech Briefs announce new technology derived from the U.S. space program. They are issued to encourage commercial 
application. Tech Briefs are available on a subscription basis from the Clearinghouse for Federal Scientific and Technical 
Information, Springfield, Virginia 22151. Requests for individual copies or questions relating to the Tech Brief program may 
be directed to the Technology Utilization Division, NASA, Code UT, Washington, D.C. 20546. 
Open-Celled Polyurethane Foam 
An open-celled polyurethane foam has been devel-
oped with an 8.3 lb/ft 3 density, and a compressive 
strength of 295 to 325 psi. The manufacturing of a 
foam with both a high degree of open cells and 
strength to withstand over 300 psi compressive load 
is considered a major improvement in foam develop-
ment. Possessing these advantages over other known 
open-celled polyurethane foams, the new foam may 
be useful as a porous spacer in layered insulation and 
as an insulation material in vacuum tight systems. 
It is expected that wherever rigid polyurethane foam 
is used in a vacuum tight system as an insulation 
member, the open-cell foam can be evacuated, with 
resultant lower thermal conductivity than obtainable 
with a closed-cell foam of the same density. Adjust-
ment of the quantity of activator mixed with other 
substances to produce the foam can yield materials 
of variable compressive strength and density. The 
foam may also have possible application as a filter 
element in various industries.
The general purpose of the rigid, open-cell polyure-
thane foam is its use as an insulation block. The open-
cell characteristic of the material allows cryopumping 
of gas from within the cell structure to a cold surface 
or sorbent material. This property permits elimina-
tion of gas conduction and convection that normally 
occur within the closed-cell foam. 
As shown in the figure, the completed foam sec-
tions were machined on a lathe and cut with a band 
saw as required. Both cutting methods produced 
excellent results. The evaluation of test development 
samples was accomplished using a vacuum pump, 
bell jar and Hg manometer. The open cell foam that 
resulted from this development program was very 
successful. 
Note: 
Requests for further information may be directed 
to:
Technology Utilization Officer 
Kennedy Space Center 
Kennedy Space Center, Florida 32899 
Reference: B70-10349 
Patent status: 
Inquiries about obtaining rights for the commercial 
use of this invention may be made to NASA, Code 
GP, Washington, D.C. 20546 
Source: Leslie W. Russell of

AMETEK/Straza
under contract to

Kennedy Space Center
(KSC- 105 17)
Category 04 
This document was prepared under the sponsorship of the National 
Aeronautics and Space Administration. Neither the United States 
Government nor any person acting on behalf of the United States
Government assumes any liability resulting from the use of the 
information contained in this document, or warrants that such use 
will be free from privately owned rights.
https://ntrs.nasa.gov/search.jsp?R=19700000337 2020-03-17T00:42:07+00:00Z


Open-celled polyurethane foam

Abstract

Similar works

Full text

Available Versions

NASA Technical Reports Server