RCAIDE.Library.Attributes.Materials.Polyurethane_Foam
Polyurethane_Foam#
- class Polyurethane_Foam(*args, **kwarg)[source]#
Bases:
SolidA class representing polyurethane foam material properties, primarily used as lightweight insulation and core filler in aerospace and engineering applications.
- density#
Material density in kg/m³ (32).
- Type:
float
- thermal_conductivity#
Heat conduction coefficient in W/(m·K) (0.022).
- Type:
float
- specific_heat_capacity#
Specific heat at constant pressure in J/(kg·K). Typical values for rigid polyurethane foams are ~1400 J/(kg·K) (not explicitly set here).
- Type:
float
- compressive_strength#
Compressive stress limit in Pa. Usually ranges from 200–400 kPa for rigid polyurethane foams (not set by default).
- Type:
float
- tensile_strength#
Tensile stress limit in Pa. Typically low for foams (not set by default).
- Type:
float
- minimum_gage_thickness#
Minimum manufacturable thickness in meters (default 0.0).
- Type:
float
Notes
Polyurethane foam is commonly used in thermal protection systems, cryogenic insulation, sandwich panel cores, and vibration damping components. Its very low density and thermal conductivity make it ideal for aerospace insulation, but its structural strength is limited compared to metals and composites.
Definitions
- ‘Thermal Conductivity’
Measure of a material’s ability to conduct heat, expressed in watts per meter-kelvin.
- ‘Foam Density’
Mass per unit volume of the foam, a key factor determining thermal and mechanical performance.
References
- [1] Ashby, M. F., & Jones, D. R. H. (2012). *Engineering Materials 2:
An Introduction to Microstructures, Processing and Design*. Elsevier.
- [2] NASA Glenn Research Center. “Foam Insulation for Aerospace Applications.”