In cold chain transportation, insulation materials are critical for maintaining low-temperature environments. They directly impact refrigeration energy consumption and cargo freshness. Producing high-quality insulation requires advanced manufacturing equipment. Feilong Polyurethane Machinery, with its leading technology, is a driving force behind the evolution of cold chain insulation materials.
1. Key Performance Indicators for Insulation Materials
When selecting cold chain insulation, focus on these critical metrics:
- Thermal Conductivity (λ): Measured in W/(m·K). A lower value indicates better insulation. Top materials typically range between 0.02-0.06 W/(m·K).
- Density: Measured in kg/m³. Balance lightweight properties with structural strength to optimize transport costs and loading efficiency.
- Water Absorption Rate: Water has a high thermal conductivity (~0.6 W/(m·K)), far exceeding air. Materials must have low water absorption, usually requiring a closed-cell content >90%.
- Temperature Resistance Range: Must withstand extremes from -60°C to ambient temperatures without becoming brittle at low temps or deforming at high temps.
- Compressive/Flexural Strength: Must endure vibrations, impacts, and compression during transit to maintain structural integrity.
2. Insulation Materials & Their Advantages
Polyurethane Foam (PU) is the primary insulation material in cold chain transport. Its performance is intrinsically linked to production equipment technology.
Formed by the reaction of isocyanate and polyol, PU foam features a closed-cell structure with these key benefits:
- Excellent Insulation: Thermal conductivity between 0.025-0.035 W/(m·K).
- Optimized Weight & Strength: Density of 30-50 kg/m³.
- Superior Moisture Resistance: Closed-cell content >95%, ensuring stable performance even in high humidity.
- Wide Temperature Range: Operates effectively from -50°C to 80°C, meeting cold chain demands.
- High Durability: Good impact resistance withstands cargo load and transport vibrations.
PU foam is widely used in refrigerated truck bodies, shipping containers, and large medical cold storage boxes. Its cost-effectiveness and reliability are proven in long-haul transportation. Combined with proper sealing, cold air leakage can be reduced to <5%, significantly lowering refrigeration energy costs.
3. Why Equipment Quality Determines PU Foam Performance
Achieving superior PU foam properties relies on high-precision equipment for accurate raw material dosing and foam processing control. Feilong Polyurethane Equipment offers three core advantages:
- Precision Mixing & Stable Foaming: Intelligent dosing systems ensure an isocyanate-polyol ratio error < ±0.5%. Temperature and pressure control achieve ±1°C and ±0.1MPa precision, guaranteeing low thermal conductivity and high closed-cell content.
- Customizable Production: Adjust parameters to produce foams with densities ranging from 30-80 kg/m³ for diverse applications. Special formulations can extend the usable temperature range to -60°C to 100°C for extreme conditions.
- High Efficiency & Cost Savings: Modular design achieves >99% raw material conversion. Intelligent temperature control recovers waste heat, offering 15%-20% energy savings vs. conventional equipment. This boosts productivity while reducing operational costs.
As the cold chain logistics sector grows rapidly, insulation material quality has become a key competitive differentiator. Feilong Polyurethane Equipment provides not only high-performance production tools but also comprehensive technical support, empowering manufacturers to produce internationally compliant insulation products.
