TY - JOUR

T1 - Fast gas chromatography–mass spectrometry method for the detection of gas phase composition of polyurethane foam and its role in foam thermal conductivity

AU - Galakhova, Anastasiia

AU - Rieß, Gisbert

N1 - Publisher Copyright: © The Author(s) 2020.

PY - 2020/3/17

Y1 - 2020/3/17

N2 - This paper presents an enhanced gas chromatography–mass spectrometry method for the separation of cell gases in polyurethane foam. The novel method was then tested on several polyurethane foams produced at different mixing times, showing successful results. The measurement of gas content in polyurethane foams has been rarely considered in published literature. This parameter, indeed, plays a critical role in the deterioration of polyurethane foam thermal conductivity. This is because of the diffusion of gases which is the main mechanism of foam aging. Hence, an improved gas chromatography–mass spectrometry method was developed to offer simultaneous separation of several types of gas in only one column, using gas chromatography as its main concept. The composition of a sample gas consisting of N 2, O 2, CO 2, and C 5H 10 was accurately calculated by measuring the ratio of each peak area on the chromatograms, with argon being used for sampling. This fast and simple method was found to be useful, on one hand for the accurate determination of C 5H 10 and CO 2 cell gases used as blowing agents, and on the other hand for N 2 and O 2 air gases that diffuse rapidly from the surrounding environment into foam cells. The effect of mixing time on foam kinetics, cellular structure, foam thermal conductivity, and the overall thermal conductivity of cell gas mixture was also investigated. By complex analysis of foam density, the presence of open cells, cell size, and thermal conductivity of cell gas mixture, the lowest measured value of foam thermal conductivity was explained. The major goal of these experiments was to show the importance of foam cell gas analysis, together with foam structure, which is uniquely done to contribute to the understanding of polyurethane foam thermal conductivity. The thermal conductivity of cell gas mixture is considered as an example of the potential applications of this novel gas chromatography–mass spectrometry method.

AB - This paper presents an enhanced gas chromatography–mass spectrometry method for the separation of cell gases in polyurethane foam. The novel method was then tested on several polyurethane foams produced at different mixing times, showing successful results. The measurement of gas content in polyurethane foams has been rarely considered in published literature. This parameter, indeed, plays a critical role in the deterioration of polyurethane foam thermal conductivity. This is because of the diffusion of gases which is the main mechanism of foam aging. Hence, an improved gas chromatography–mass spectrometry method was developed to offer simultaneous separation of several types of gas in only one column, using gas chromatography as its main concept. The composition of a sample gas consisting of N 2, O 2, CO 2, and C 5H 10 was accurately calculated by measuring the ratio of each peak area on the chromatograms, with argon being used for sampling. This fast and simple method was found to be useful, on one hand for the accurate determination of C 5H 10 and CO 2 cell gases used as blowing agents, and on the other hand for N 2 and O 2 air gases that diffuse rapidly from the surrounding environment into foam cells. The effect of mixing time on foam kinetics, cellular structure, foam thermal conductivity, and the overall thermal conductivity of cell gas mixture was also investigated. By complex analysis of foam density, the presence of open cells, cell size, and thermal conductivity of cell gas mixture, the lowest measured value of foam thermal conductivity was explained. The major goal of these experiments was to show the importance of foam cell gas analysis, together with foam structure, which is uniquely done to contribute to the understanding of polyurethane foam thermal conductivity. The thermal conductivity of cell gas mixture is considered as an example of the potential applications of this novel gas chromatography–mass spectrometry method.

KW - polyurethane foam

KW - gas chromatography–mass spectrometry

KW - gas composition

KW - cell gas analysis

KW - blowing agent

KW - Thermal Conductivity

KW - thermal conductivity

KW - Polyurethane foam

UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85082108342&partnerID=8YFLogxK

U2 - 10.1177/0021955X20912206

DO - 10.1177/0021955X20912206

M3 - Article

VL - 56.2020

SP - 531

EP - 545

JO - Journal of Cellular Plastics [Elektronische Ressource]

JF - Journal of Cellular Plastics [Elektronische Ressource]

SN - 1530-7999

IS - 5

ER -