If Icy gets exposed to long term moisture, does it degrade?
Trying to picture what would happen if a flashing failed, and Icy was exposed to water for awhile without the oppty to dry out.
Anyone have exp w/ this?
_____________________________
HomeBase______________ LLC
This thoughtfully designed home preserves the character of its neighborhood while maximizing space for a growing family through careful attention to scale, rooflines, and material choices.
"I have learned so much thanks to the searchable articles on the FHB website. I can confidently say that I expect to be a life-long subscriber." - M.K.
Dig into cutting-edge approaches and decades of proven solutions with total access to our experts and tradespeople.
Start Free Trial NowGet instant access to the latest developments in green building, research, and reports from the field.
Start Free Trial Now
Replies
I don't think moisture has any effect. There is a similar foam used to fill commercial fishing floats. These are then encased in polyethylene. Not uncommonly the outer casing gets broken and the foam is fully exposed.
The only degradation occurs with extended exposure to sunlight. The foam turns darker amber color and the surface eventually becomes friable. But it is not the water, polluted salt water in most cases, that causes this. Where the casing is broken but prevents direct exposure to sunlight the foam is still the normal tan.
On the other end I hear that some insects like to make nests within the foam. They don't eat it so much as burrow deep and move in.
4Lorn, are you sure you're not thinking of Polyurethane foam? I used some great stuff to seal a temp opening this winter, and it did darken as you said. Icy is open cell, so does allow moisture to penetrate, and I've heard is almost "sponge" like in some ways._____________________________HomeBase______________ LLC
"I've heard is almost "sponge" like in some ways."Who did you hear this from?And what is "almost sponge like".####is the skeleton animal that lives in the sea.Is almso sponge like the skeleton of a fresh water animal?http://forums.prospero.com/tp-breaktime/messages?msg=55872.2http://www.sprayfoam.com/index.php?module=ContentExpress&func=display&ceid=20&meid=&zone=40
i.e. it absorbs and retains water like a sponge. Thanks for the link. I did see toward the end that one posting mentioned flood damage with no visible degradation (or mold) on the icy.
Didn't realize icy was also a polyurethane... my mistake. I knew it was open cell, but I thought it was based on a diff. chemical reaction._____________________________HomeBase______________ LLC
Icynene IS polyurethane foam. It happens to be the 1/2 lb density type. Closed cell content ~50%.Corbond and others is ~2 lb (per cu ft) density. This is ~93% closed cell content and is refered to as "closed cell". Icynene is "open cell", both still based on the same chemicals and both polyurethane foam.Stu
Thanks for clarifying that.With new stuff hitting the market every day it gets confusing. I'm not sure anyone who doesn't play with the stuff and make a concerted effort to keep it straight can tell the difference in many products. Manufacturers don't make it any easier. They always have to call their version something different and most claim their version is somehow 'better' than other offerings. Even when their version is essentially the same as all the others.IMHO market positioning and hype too often win over clarity and, sometimes, simple honesty.