Enhancement of Dimensional Stability of Compressed Open Cell Rigid Polyurethane Foams by Thermo-Mechanical Treatment

【Thermo-mechanical treatment process of a compressed open-cell rigid polyurethane foam (OC-RPUF), which was fabricated for the vacuum insulation panel (VIP), was studied to obtain an optimum condition for the dimensional stability by the relaxation of compressive stress. Thermo-mechanical deformation of the sample OC-RPUF was shown to occur from about $120^{\circ}C$ . Yield stress of 0.36 MPa was shown at about 10% yield strain. And, densification of the foam started to occur from 75% compressive strain and could be continued up to max. 90%. Compression set of the sample restored after initial compression to 90% at room temperature was ca. 82%. Though the expansion occurred to about twice of the originally compressed thickness in case of temperature rise to $130^{\circ}C$ , it could be overcome and the dimensional stability could be maintained if the constant load of 0.3 MPa was applied. As the result, a thermo-mechanical treatment process, i.e, annealing process at temperature of $130{\sim}140^{\circ}C$ for about 20 min as is the maximum compressed state at room temperature, should be required for dimensional stability as an optimum condition for the use of VIP core material.】