Abstract: Disclosed are methods, systems and computer program products for producing and applying a spray foam producing mixture onto a surface, and imaging a spray cone, or the applied surface, using an infrared or an optical imaging device to capture an image, and then determining, based on the captured image, if a defect that requires correction exists in the spray cone or in the applied surface; and optionally, in response to determining that a defect requiring correction exists, modifying a process parameter in producing or applying spray foam.

Abstract: Disclosed are methods, systems and computer program products for producing polyurethane foam, and then imaging the polyurethane foam at or just after the outlets while the foam is being produced, above the surface of the foam at an angle greater than zero to less than degrees relative to the surface of the foam, or after the foam is cut but before it has cooled to room temperature, using an infrared or an optical imaging device, to capture an image of the polyurethane foam, and determining, based on the captured image, if a defect that requires correction exists in the polyurethane foam; and optionally, in response to determining that a defect requiring correction exists, modifying a process parameter in producing the polyurethane foam.

Abstract: Disclosed are methods, systems and computer program products for producing rigid foam board, comprising: depositing a foam producing mixture on a facer as it travels along a conveyor; producing a rigid foam board via an exothermic reaction; imaging the rigid foam board after it is produced but before it has cooled to room temperature, using an infrared or an optical imaging device, to capture an image of the rigid foam board; receiving a signal comprising the captured image from the imaging device to a computing device; determining, based on the captured image, if a defect that requires correction exists in the rigid foam board; and optionally, in response to determining that a defect requiring correction exists, modifying a process parameter in producing rigid foam board.

Abstract: Methods for measuring long-term thermal resistance of closed-cell foam. The methods include: (a) placing a stack of slices cut from a sample of the foam between two isothermal plates in a calibrated heat flow meter comprising a heat flux transducer; (b) measuring an initial thermal resistance of the same stack of slices at a plurality of preselected mean temperatures within the temperature range of 10° F. to 150° F. wherein the stack of foam slices stays inside the heat flow meter throughout step (b); (c) at a time calculated to represent a selected aging period of the foam, placing the same stack of slices between two isothermal plates in a calibrated heat flow meter and measuring the thermal resistance of the stack of slices at a plurality of preselected mean temperatures within the temperature range of 10° F. to 150° F.

Abstract: Methods for measuring long-term thermal resistance of closed-cell foam. The methods include: (a) placing a stack of slices cut from a sample of the foam between two isothermal plates in a calibrated heat flow meter comprising a heat flux transducer; (b) measuring an initial thermal resistance of the same stack of slices at a plurality of preselected mean temperatures within the temperature range of 10° F. to 150° F., wherein the stack of foam slices stays inside the heat flow meter throughout step (b); (c) at a time calculated to represent a selected aging period of the foam, placing the same stack of slices between two isothermal plates in a calibrated heat flow meter and measuring the thermal resistance of the stack of slices at a plurality of preselected mean temperatures within the temperature range of 10° F. to 150° F.