Why is PU foam core the first choice for cold storage sandwich panels? How low can its thermal conductivity actually reach?

PU foam has a closed-cell ratio exceeding 95%, with thermal conductivity as low as 0.018–0.022 W/(m·K), far superior to XPS and PET. Rigid polyurethane forms micron-sized closed cells during foaming, suppressing convection and radiation heat transfer. In practical cold storage applications, a 160mm thick PU sandwich panel can achieve a heat transfer coefficient of 0.2 W/(m²·K). Furthermore, the one-time reactive bonding strength between PU and metal facings is very high, preventing condensation and delamination risks caused by temperature differences during cold storage operation. However, PU’s upper temperature limit is approximately 120°C, making it unsuitable for high-temperature drying rooms.


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