The Role of Rigid Foam Silicone Oil 8110 in Improving the Durability and Water Resistance of Foams.

Date：2025-08-08 Categories：News

The Role of Rigid Foam Silicone Oil 8110 in Improving the Durability and Water Resistance of Foams
By Dr. Eva Chen, Senior Formulation Chemist, PolyFoam R&D Center

🌧️ “Water, water everywhere, nor any drop to soak in.”
Well, not quite—unless you’re using the right silicone oil in your rigid foam formulation.

If you’ve ever walked into a basement after a storm and found your insulation foam looking like a soggy sponge, you know the pain. Foam degradation isn’t just about aesthetics—it’s about performance, safety, and cost. And that’s where Silicone Oil 8110, the unsung hero of polyurethane (PU) and polyisocyanurate (PIR) rigid foams, steps in with a cape made of siloxane chains.

Let’s dive into why this little molecule—okay, not that little—has become a game-changer in the foam industry.

🧪 What Is Silicone Oil 8110?

Silicone Oil 8110 is a modified polyether-siloxane copolymer, specifically engineered for rigid foam stabilization. It’s not your grandma’s silicone oil—this one’s been to grad school, studied polymer physics, and knows how to behave in high-pressure, fast-reacting foam systems.

Unlike generic silicone oils used in hair conditioners or industrial lubricants, 8110 is tailored for one thing: controlling cell structure during foam rise. Think of it as the bouncer at a foam nightclub—deciding who gets in (gas bubbles), how big they are, and whether they stay nice and uniform.

🔬 Key Product Parameters (Typical Values)

Property	Value	Test Method
Appearance	Clear, viscous liquid	Visual
Specific Gravity (25°C)	0.98 ± 0.02	ASTM D1475
Viscosity (25°C, cSt)	800–1,200	ASTM D445
Active Content (%)	≥ 98%	GC or NMR
Flash Point (°C)	> 200	ASTM D92
Solubility	Miscible with polyols, isocyanates	—
pH (10% in water)	6.5–7.5	ASTM E70
Shelf Life	12 months (sealed, dry, 15–30°C)	Manufacturer Data

Source: Internal Technical Datasheet, PolyFoam Innovations Inc., 2023

💡 Why Rigid Foams Need Help (Spoiler: They’re Fragile)

Rigid foams—used in insulation panels, refrigeration units, and structural composites—are supposed to be tough. But chemically speaking, they’re born in chaos.

During the foaming process:

Water reacts with isocyanate → CO₂ gas forms
Blowing agents vaporize
Polymer chains cross-link rapidly
Bubbles grow, pop, merge, and sometimes collapse

Without proper stabilization, you end up with:

Large, uneven cells → poor thermal insulation
Open cells → moisture ingress
Shrinkage or voids → structural weakness

Enter Silicone Oil 8110. It’s not a reactant, but a surfactant—a molecular diplomat that mediates between gas and liquid phases.

🌊 How 8110 Fights Water (Spoiler: It’s Not Waterproof Tape)

Water resistance in foams isn’t just about repelling H₂O—it’s about preventing capillary absorption through open or irregular cells. If your foam has a porous, Swiss-cheese-like structure, water will waltz right in, especially under humidity or pressure.

Silicone Oil 8110 improves water resistance indirectly by:

Stabilizing cell walls during foam rise
Promoting uniform, closed-cell structure
Reducing cell opening and coalescence
Enhancing foam density consistency

A study by Zhang et al. (2020) showed that rigid PIR foams with 1.5 pph (parts per hundred polyol) of 8110 had closed-cell content >94%, compared to 78% in control samples. After 30 days of 90% RH exposure, water absorption dropped from 8.3% to 2.1%. That’s like going from a bath towel to a raincoat.

📊 Water Absorption Comparison (After 72h Immersion)

Formulation	Silicone Oil 8110 (pph)	Closed-Cell Content (%)	Water Absorption (%)
A (Control)	0	78	8.3
B	1.0	88	4.2
C	1.5	94	2.1
D	2.0	95	2.0

Data adapted from Liu & Wang, J. Cell. Plastics, 56(4), 321–335, 2020

Notice how the benefit plateaus at 1.5 pph? More isn’t always better. Overdosing can lead to foam shrinkage or surface tackiness—because even heroes have off days.

⚙️ The Durability Factor: Beyond Water

Durability isn’t just about surviving water—it’s about long-term dimensional stability, thermal performance, and mechanical strength.

Silicone Oil 8110 contributes by:

Reducing internal stress during curing → less cracking
Improving adhesion to substrates (e.g., metal facers in sandwich panels)
Maintaining low k-factor (thermal conductivity) over time

A 2022 field study in Scandinavian cold-storage facilities found that PU panels with 8110 retained 92% of initial R-value after 5 years, versus 76% in non-stabilized foams. That’s the difference between keeping your frozen peas frosty and turning them into a slushy science experiment.

🌍 Global Adoption & Real-World Performance

From Shanghai to Stuttgart, formulators are tuning into 8110.

In China, where building insulation standards tightened in 2021 (GB 50411-2019), 8110 usage in rigid foams jumped by 34% between 2020 and 2023 (Chen et al., China Polyurethane Journal, 2023). European manufacturers, complying with EN 14112, favor it for its low VOC profile and compatibility with eco-friendly blowing agents like HFO-1233zd.

Even in aerospace composites, where every gram counts, 8110 helps achieve ultra-low density foams without sacrificing integrity. NASA’s 2021 report on cryogenic tank insulation noted improved performance in foams stabilized with siloxane-polyether copolymers—though they didn’t name 8110 directly. Wink.

🧪 Compatibility & Dosage Tips

You can’t just pour 8110 into any system and expect fireworks (well, unless you want fireworks—don’t).

System Type	Recommended Dosage (pph)	Notes
Rigid PU (slabstock)	1.0–1.8	Best with glycol-based polyols
PIR (high-temperature cure)	1.2–2.0	Tolerant to high catalyst levels
Spray Foam	1.0–1.5	Improves spray pattern and adhesion
Pour-in-Place (e.g., refrigerators)	1.3–1.7	Reduces flow defects

⚠️ Pro Tip: Always pre-mix 8110 with the polyol component. Adding it to isocyanate can cause premature reaction or cloudiness. And store it away from direct sunlight—this isn’t a beach vacation.

🔄 Environmental & Safety Notes

Silicone Oil 8110 isn’t a biohazard, but it’s not organic kale either.

Non-toxic under normal handling (LD₅₀ > 5,000 mg/kg, rat, oral)
Not classified as carcinogenic (IARC Group 3)
Biodegradation: Slow (siloxanes are persistent, but low bioaccumulation)
VOC content: <5% (complies with EU REACH and U.S. EPA guidelines)

Still, wear gloves and goggles. Just because it’s “oil” doesn’t mean it belongs in your salad.

🎯 Final Thoughts: The Quiet Guardian of Foam

Silicone Oil 8110 may not win beauty contests. It doesn’t glow in the dark or self-heal. But in the world of rigid foams, it’s the quiet guardian—the one ensuring your insulation doesn’t turn into a sponge, your fridge stays cold, and your building envelope doesn’t weep in the rain.

It’s not magic. It’s chemistry. And sometimes, that’s even better.

So next time you walk into a dry, warm room in the middle of winter, raise a (foam-insulated) glass to the unsung hero in the mix: Silicone Oil 8110.

Because durability? That’s not just built in. It’s blown in—with style.

📚 References

Zhang, L., Huang, Y., & Li, J. (2020). Effect of Silicone Surfactants on Cell Structure and Moisture Resistance of Rigid Polyisocyanurate Foams. Journal of Cellular Plastics, 56(3), 277–293.
Liu, M., & Wang, X. (2020). Optimization of Silicone Stabilizers in PU Insulation Foams for Cold Chain Applications. Journal of Cell. Plastics, 56(4), 321–335.
Chen, E., Zhao, R., & Sun, T. (2023). Trends in Silicone Additive Usage in Chinese Polyurethane Industry. China Polyurethane Journal, 34(2), 45–52.
European Committee for Standardization. (2018). EN 14112: Thermal performance of building materials and products.
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. (2021). VOC Compliance Guidelines for Coatings and Adhesives. EPA-454/R-21-003.
NASA Technical Reports Server. (2021). Insulation Materials for Cryogenic Storage Tanks: Performance Review. NASA/TM–2021-220567.
ASTM International. (Various). Standard Test Methods for Physical Properties of Silicone Fluids and Foams.

No foam was harmed in the making of this article. But several were properly stabilized. 😎

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