What problems may occur during the use of phenolic foam board?

31 Jul.,2025

Problem description: Although phenolic foam board itself has good fireproof performance, in actual use, its fireproof effect may not meet expectations due to some factors. For example, after long-term use, the surface is polluted or damaged, which may affect its flame retardancy.

 

Phenolic foam board may encounter the following problems during use:

1. Fireproof performance

Problem description: Although phenolic foam board itself has good fireproof performance, in actual use, its fireproof effect may not meet expectations due to some factors. For example, after long-term use, the surface is polluted or damaged, which may affect its flame retardancy.

 

Cause analysis:

Surface contamination: If the surface of the phenolic foam board is contaminated with flammable oil, paint and other substances, these pollutants may burn first when encountering a fire source, thereby affecting the overall fireproof performance of the foam board.

Physical damage: During installation or use, if the surface of the foam board is scratched or broken, the internal foam structure will be exposed. Once a fire occurs, the flame may more easily invade the interior and accelerate the combustion process.

 

Solution:

Clean the surface of the foam board regularly to avoid contamination by flammable substances. If contaminants such as oil are found on the surface, use a suitable detergent (such as a mild organic solvent) to clean it.

During installation and use, be careful to avoid mechanical damage to the foam board. For damaged parts, you can use materials such as fireproof sealants to repair them.

 

2. Thermal insulation performance

Problem description: The decline in thermal insulation performance is a possible problem in the use of phenolic foam board. For example, after a period of use, the indoor temperature maintenance effect is not as good as when it was first installed.

 

Cause analysis:

Moisture: Phenolic foam board is a porous material that easily absorbs moisture in the air. When the foam board is damp, the pores inside it will be occupied by moisture, and the thermal conductivity of water is much higher than that of air, which will make heat transfer easier, thereby reducing the thermal insulation performance.

Structural changes: The internal structure of the phenolic foam board may change due to long-term external pressure or temperature changes. For example, the foam board may collapse locally or the pore structure may deform, which will weaken the thermal insulation effect of the air in it.

 

Solution:

Take waterproof measures, such as adding a waterproof layer on the surface of the phenolic foam board when installing it, such as applying waterproof paint or covering waterproof rolls. At the same time, ensure that the installation environment is dry and avoid installation in a high humidity environment.

Avoid excessive pressure on the foam board. When designing the installation structure, consider the bearing capacity of the foam board. For possible temperature changes, some temperature compensation measures can be adopted, such as adding a buffer layer between the foam board and other materials.

 

3. Strength and stability

Problem description: The strength of phenolic foam board is relatively low, and it may crack or deform during use.

 

Cause analysis:

Limited bearing capacity: Phenolic foam board itself is relatively light and has a low density, and its ability to withstand vertical pressure and shear force is weak. If too heavy objects are placed on it or it is subjected to a large external force, it is easy to deform or crack.

Aging effect: As time goes by, phenolic foam board may age, resulting in a decrease in its strength. This is mainly due to the breakage of chemical bonds inside the material under the action of long-term environmental factors (such as ultraviolet rays, oxidation, etc.).

 

Solution:

Reinforce the phenolic foam board according to the actual use scenario. For example, in places where it needs to bear a large weight, a supporting structure such as a metal frame or a wooden keel can be added under or inside the foam board.

 

Protect the phenolic foam board to reduce its exposure to harsh environments. Anti-ultraviolet paint can be applied to the surface to delay the aging process. At the same time, when choosing phenolic foam board, you can choose products with better quality and strong anti-aging performance.

 

4. Compatibility with other materials

Problem description: When used with other building materials (such as adhesives, sealing materials, etc.), compatibility problems such as poor bonding and chemical reactions may occur.

 

Cause analysis:

Differences in chemical properties: The chemical composition of phenolic foam board makes it possible to react chemically with certain adhesives or sealing materials. For example, some adhesives with strong acidity or alkalinity may react with phenolic foam board to neutralize acid and base, affecting the bonding effect.

Surface characteristics: The surface of phenolic foam board is relatively smooth, and some adhesive materials may have difficulty in forming a good bond on its surface.

 

Solution:

Choose adhesives and sealing materials that are compatible with the chemical properties of phenolic foam board. Before use, a small-scale compatibility test can be performed to observe whether there are any adverse reactions.

Pretreat the surface of phenolic foam board, such as by grinding, applying primer, etc. to increase the surface roughness and improve the bonding effect between adhesive material and foam board.