Comfortable conditions in any living space directly depend on the temperature maintained during the heating season. High-quality thermal insulation of the building helps to ensure the optimal temperature level at minimal cost. This is why it is important to choose effective insulation to protect the structure.
One of the recently emerging options for the basis for thermal insulation is polyethylene foam, which provides reliable protection for any structure. Insulation with a reflective layer under the Penoflex brand is a prominent representative of insulation based on polyethylene foam. The material combines heat-shielding properties, impermeability to moisture and water vapor, non-flammability, and inertness to aggressive influences.
Structure and properties of insulation
Foamed polyethylene is formed during a polymerization reaction with a decay mechanism. At the beginning of the process, additives are introduced into the reaction mass to form a porous structure. As a result, the polymer body is uniformly filled with air pores with a diameter ranging from several hundred microns to a millimeter. This structure of the pore system allows the polymer to perfectly retain heat and resist its loss, and also practically deprives it of permeability associated with the open nature of the pores.
As a result, the thermal conductivity of Penoflex materials is low, which helps to effectively protect the treated surface from heat loss. The presence of a foil layer with a thickness of at least 14 microns ensures effective reflection of heat into the room. The adhesive composition applied to the surface of polyethylene foam makes it easy to secure the material to any surface.
Price
In construction stores, this insulation product is sold in packages. How many pieces does the package contain? Each individual package contains 4-20 pieces. The number of pieces in one package depends on the thickness of the heat insulator. The weight of one package is usually 15 kilograms.
According to information provided by online stores, the wholesale price per cubic meter (10 m3) is:
- Comfort – about 4000 rubles;
- roofing – 4300-4400 rubles;
- base of the building (foundation) – 4200-4300 rubles;
- penoplex - 5500 rubles.
So, we can assume that Penoplex is one of the materials that is used for insulation. The service life is almost 50 years. The structure obtained as a result of manufacturing helped to make a product with low mass and low thermal conductivity. You can carry out insulation using thin layers of the product. But be aware of the risk of fire and solve this problem in advance.
Basic parameters of materials
As with other thermal insulation composites used to protect buildings from internal heat emission, Penoflex polyethylene foam has a number of requirements. The main technical characteristics of this material include:
- almost zero permeability for water vapor at the level of 0.0015 mg/m*h*Pa;
- thermal conductivity no more than 0.045 W/mK;
- high elasticity under mechanical stress;
- density from 35 to 65 kg/m3;
- low volumetric water absorption, not exceeding 0.8%.
Due to its complex spatial structure, insulation with a reflective layer does not support combustion.
When polyethylene foam is heated, carbon dioxide trapped in the pores is released, which helps extinguish open flames. That is why such thermal insulation is well suited for wooden buildings.
Available analogues. What is the difference? Which is better and warmer?
- Penoplex or Mineral wool
- Penoplex or Foam plastic
- Technoplex or Penoplex
- Styrex or Penoplex
- Izolon or Penoplex
If you compare these materials, you must take into account their scope of application. For example, mineral wool is definitely not suitable for a foundation or basement: it absorbs moisture well, which leads to weight gain. Accordingly, the insulation slides down, exposing the walls. To avoid these problems, you will have to install additional moisture insulation, and this proportionally increases costs.
However, in terms of heat and sound insulation, Penoplex loses to mineral wool, although the latter material looks more difficult in terms of installation.
Both materials do not absorb moisture, so they are equally suitable for insulating basements. Thermal conductivity indicators are better for Penoplex, but only slightly. It is worth noting that polystyrene foam can be classified as an eternal material, and the service life of Penoplex declared by the manufacturer is 50 years .
Therefore, for internal and external insulation, both materials can be used with equal efficiency, but if service life plays a decisive role, it is better to give preference to polystyrene foam.
These are two materials that are almost identical in their properties. Here you can observe the same indicators of mechanical strength and bending resistance: 250 kPa and 0.4 MPa , respectively.
If we talk about resistance to sub-zero temperatures, then Technoplex looks warmer - the operating temperature of the material: -70 degrees Celsius , however, such temperatures are difficult to meet in most regions of Russia. The thermal conductivity of the insulation is the same: 0.031 W/mK , but Technoplex is more resistant to humid environments.
There are no fundamental differences between these materials, so they have an identical scope of application. Here we can highlight the following difference: Stirex is more resistant to bending deformation, but is more expensive to purchase. In addition, Stirex is more suitable for insulating rooms where there is a significant difference between external and internal temperatures.
Thanks to its structure, Izolon is ideal for insulating floors and roofs, increasing the thermal and sound insulation of rooms. However, for walls it is better to use Penoplex as a material that is more convenient to install.
Types of thermal insulation
The basic characteristics of polyethylene foam-based materials may vary depending on their purpose. So, for additional thermal insulation, it is best to choose a material with a thickness of 10 mm. A larger layer of porous polyethylene becomes unstable due to the low strength in the polymer body due to the developed pore structure.
As a vapor barrier, protection from wind and external moisture, an option with a thickness of 2–4 mm is more suitable. To effectively dampen sounds, the polyethylene layer must be at least 6 - 8 mm.
Foil products
Applying a layer of foil on both sides allows you to improve the insulation characteristics and use Penoflex for external insulation of building walls. Reflection of external heat protects the structure in summer, preventing it from overheating. And in winter, the internal reflective surface becomes an effective barrier, helping to retain heat in the room.
Perforated film
To protect communications and create ventilation ducts, special perforated types of reflective insulation are used. Such materials have greater permeability and therefore effectively regulate air flow.
It must be remembered that when installing complete thermal insulation, such material may not be enough. Therefore, it is often combined with more traditional insulation, using it as waterproofing, as well as an additional barrier to heat, wind and sound.
Mounting technology
Insulation installation diagram
Installation of this thermal insulation product includes fastening using construction adhesive to a surface that must be flat and dry. Therefore, before starting the procedure, it is necessary to prepare the surface, that is, level it. After securing the installation of insulating boards, protection must be carried out. Decorative cladding products are used as a protective layer. To strengthen the adhesive fastening, you need to use umbrella dowel nails. Typically, this technology for installing insulation boards is used for walls or ceiling surfaces.
If you must insulate the floor, there are other recommendations. First you need to build up the subfloor. This can be done using DSP and GVL boards. A waterproofing layer is laid on the subfloor. Then the joints of the rolled insulation are overlapped using construction tape. This is done so that the concrete solution cannot seep into the wall product. There should be thermal insulation gaps between the walls and the subfloor; upon completion of installation, they are foamed with polyurethane foam.
Important! Winter grades of polyurethane foam contain substances that contain toluene. This substance is destructive to polystyrene foam.
During the procedure for thermal insulation of the wall surface, it is necessary to fill the gaps that are located between the penoflex and the walls of the structure using construction foam. The top is protected using a heat-reflecting foil film. It is the film that will be firmly held on the polyurethane glue. The joints of the film must be glued using metallized tape. Thanks to this, you will be able to achieve the performance of a thermos.
Advantages of insulation
Polyethylene as a chemical compound is inert to most aggressive substances found in nature and human life. That is why it does not decompose during operation and does not release harmful substances into the atmosphere, water or soil. Such material is harmless to both humans and the environment.
Due to its low thermal conductivity and the presence of a foil layer, the insulation perfectly reflects internal heat, preventing its emission through the main elements of the building. Penoflex does not require the use of special waterproofing films and membranes.
Installation of such a composite also does not require special skills; it is fastened using an adhesive layer applied on the polyethylene foam side and can be completed in 3-4 hours.
general information
Penoplex is a material consisting of foamed polystyrene, which is produced by extrusion. It can be used to solve a wide range of problems in the field of thermal insulation of objects. It is actively used not only during work in residential premises. This often happens when it is used to insulate industrial structures.
Thermal insulation of attic rooms and building facades is carried out more and more often using this product
This product was developed in the USA. A special technique, which involved the use of the extrusion method, made it possible to obtain a new solution with a uniform structure. The insulation contains many small cells with a finishing coating. Their size does not exceed 0.2 mm.
The heat insulator production technology involves mixing polystyrene in granules under conditions of high temperature and pressure.
During this operation, a foaming agent is added. Oxygen dioxide is used as such, or a mixture consisting of two light types of freons is used. At the final stage of production, the remaining foaming agent in the cells is easily filled with ambient air. Read also: detailed characteristics and properties of polystyrene foam.
In this video we will show you which insulation should be used for your home:
Installation of thermal insulation based on polyethylene foam
Due to their high flexibility, Penoflex insulating materials can be attached to a surface of any level. This insulation does not require careful preparation with leveling the walls, floor and ceiling. With a thickness of 10 mm, the insulation can hide some defects in the treated surface.
During installation, the sheets of material are attached end-to-end, the seam must be treated with sealant and covered with waterproofing tape. Overlapping fixation can lead to the formation of condensation at the joints, which promotes the development of mold and various microorganisms.
Taking into account the low permeability of the insulation, when attaching it, it is best to make a lathing that creates a ventilation gap of 20 mm between the insulation and the base, as well as the finishing material.
Types of penoflex
There are 5 types of thermal insulation material Penoplex. Types of Penoplex:
- "Foundation-35". This product does not contain fire retardant additives. The scope of application of this variety is basements, basements, and foundations of buildings. A similar material is Penoplex GEO.
- "Wall-31". The area of use of that brand is the external surfaces of basement walls, basements, and roofs that have a pitched structure.
- “Roof-35” is a brand that is suitable for insulating roofs of absolutely any design. Thanks to the special chamfer on the edges, precise connections can be made without any problems.
- Penoplex brand "Comfort-31". Area of use: walls, basements, roofs that have a pitched structure.
There is another brand - “Penoplex-45”. It is used in places where it will be subject to increased mechanical stress. Such places can be asphalt pavement, industrial facilities, and so on.
Features of using insulation
A material based on polyethylene foam with a reflective layer can become independent thermal insulation for a balcony or loggia, as well as an attic intended for living in the summer and off-season.
It must be remembered that foamed polyethylene alone is not enough to ensure complete insulation, so it is often combined with mineral wool as a vapor barrier and protection from external moisture and weathering. When used in combination with extruded polystyrene foam, such materials make it possible to reduce the layer of basic insulation by approximately 1.2 - 1.5 times, which significantly reduces the cost of protecting the structure from heat loss.
What is it made of? Compound
We have before us a completely artificial material, which is made from chemical components mixed in certain proportions. The technology involves using a temperature of 140 degrees, which causes the ingredients to melt and foam, forming porophores. If we talk about specifics, the following materials are used in production:
- Polystyrene.
- Ground perlite.
- Lemon acid.
- Tetrabromoparaxylene.
- Barium or zinc stearate.
- Bicarbonate of soda.
The use of such components in certain proportions forms a strong cellular-porous structure filled with gas.
