Thermally insulating extruded foams laminated with barrier films

Abstract

Extruded styrenic foam can provide considerable insulation performance, making it a suitable material for a wide variety of building applications. Its thermal resistance over time is heavily influenced by the diffusion rate of oxygen and nitrogen from the ambient air environment into the cellular structure, and which, if moderated, can lead to still more effective systems. Application of a barrier to surfaces of the foam as a means to provide more controllable gas exchange can be accomplished through use of multilayer ethylene vinyl alcohol-based polymeric films designed specifically for the purpose. Behavior of barrier-faced foam systems with respect to cell gas content, mechanical properties, thermal insulation performance over time, and barrier integrity is described, along with potential benefits of its use in practice.