Polyisocyanurate Wall Insulation Board
This information reflects our best understanding of product composition in 2016.
Polyisocyanurate (polyiso) foam insulation is a closed cell, rigid insulation board. These products consist of a foam core between two facers. The foam itself comes from the reaction of MDI/PMDI with polyols. Additional additives include catalysts...
Polyisocyanurate (polyiso) foam insulation is a closed cell, rigid insulation board. These products consist of a foam core between two facers. The foam itself comes from the reaction of MDI/PMDI with polyols. Additional additives include catalysts, surfactants, flame retardants, and blowing agents. The facers are applied as the foam is reacting, and a separate adhesive does not appear to be needed. The flame retardant in the foam is typically a chlorinated flame retardant, TCPP. One roofing board is currently available with no halogenated flame retardants and instead uses an organo-phosphorus flame retardant that is reactive, so becomes part of the polymer chain. The facer materials vary depending on the manufacturer and the application. Polyiso for roof applications is typically faced with a glass reinforced fiber material. This CP focuses on boards for wall applications, which typically have an aluminum foil laminated kraft facer that has recycled content. These boards can be used as an exterior sheathing or for a variety of interior exposed applications including interior walls, below-grade basement walls, closed crawl spaces, and ceilings. Some manufacturers offer a specialty product with additional coatings to provide a more finished appearance for interior applications, but this type of finish is excluded from the CP.