Vol. 337 No. 4 (2026)
DOI https://doi.org/10.18799/24131830/2026/4/5121
Impact of high temperatures on the durability of polyurethane foam insulation of heating networks
Relevance. Due to the emergence of new insulating materials, as well as the tendency to replace mineral wool insulation with polyurethane foam insulation during the reconstruction of heating networks, the study of the durability of thermal insulation materials is an urgent task, especially given the wide range of temperatures in which materials are used when insulating heating network pipelines. When choosing a thermal insulation material, it is necessary to take into account that exposure to high temperatures on the material can lead to its thermal degradation. Aim. To evaluate the durability and maximum temperature of application of polyurethane foam insulation by determining the degree of material thermal destruction at 100–150°C. Methods. The durability and maximum application temperature of polyurethane foam insulation were determined based on the results of thermogravimetric analysis using isoconversion methods of kinetic analysis. Results. Based on the results of the thermogravimetric analysis, the authors have calculated the activation energy of the thermal decomposition for polyurethane foam insulation. The obtained activation energy values were used to calculate the durability and maximum application temperature. The authors calculated the maximum temperatures of using polyurethane foam insulation for different degrees of decomposition of the material depending on the service life. The paper introduces the dependence of the material durability on the temperature of exposure to the material. Conclusions. The paper proposes the method for assessing the durability and maximum temperature of application of thermal insulation materials. It is shown how the temperature, at which thermal insulation materials are used in heating networks, affects the thermal destruction of polyurethane foam insulation. This method can be used to assess the compliance of the material durability with the requirements imposed on thermal insulation structures of heating network pipelines.
For citation: Bazukova E.R., Vankov Yu.V., Ziganshin Sh.G., Abdullin T.R., Zakirova Ya.R. Impact of high temperatures on the durability of polyurethane foam insulation of heating networks. Bulletin of the Tomsk Polytechnic University. Geo Assets Engineering, 2026, vol. 337, no. 4, pp. 7-16.
Keywords:
durability, polyurethane foam insulation, thermal destruction, maximum application temperature, thermal insulation of pipelines, heat losses
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