RT info:eu-repo/semantics/article T1 Identification and quantification of cell gas evolution in rigid polyurethane foams by novel GCMS methodology A1 Galakhova, Anastasiia A1 Santiago Calvo, Mercerdes A1 Tirado Mediavilla, Josias A1 Villafañe González, Fernando A1 Rodríguez Pérez, Miguel Ángel A1 Riess, Gisbert K1 Polyurethane foams K1 Espumas de poliuretano K1 Cell gas K1 Gas celular K1 Thermal conductivity K1 Conductividad térmica AB This paper presents a new methodology based on gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GCMS) in order to separate and quantify the gases presented inside the cells of rigid polyurethane (RPU) foams. To demonstrate this novel methodology, the gas composition along more than three years of aging is herein determined for two samples: a reference foam and foam with 1.5 wt% of talc. The GCMS method was applied, on one hand, for the accurate determination of C5H10 and CO2 cell gases used as blowing agents and, on the other hand, for N2 and O2 air gases that diffuse rapidly from the surrounding environment into foam cells. GCMS results showed that CO2 leaves foam after 2.5 month (from 21% to 0.03% for reference foam and from 17% to 0.03% for foam with 1.5% talc). C5H10 deviates during 3.5 months (from 28% up to 39% for reference foam and from 29% up to 36% for foam with talc), then it starts to leave the foam and after 3.5 year its content is 13% for reference and 10% for foam with talc. Air diffuses inside the cells faster for one year (from 51% up to 79% for reference and from 54% up to 81% for foam with talc) and then more slowly for 3.5 years (reaching 86% for reference and 90% for foam with talc). Thus, the fast and simple presented methodology provides valuable information to understand the long-term thermal conductivity of the RPU foams. PB MDPI SN 2073-4360 YR 2019 FD 2019 LK http://uvadoc.uva.es/handle/10324/40972 UL http://uvadoc.uva.es/handle/10324/40972 LA eng NO Polymers, 2019, vol. 11, n. 7. 11 p. NO Producción Científica DS UVaDOC RD 24-nov-2024