Contribution to the gas chromatographic analysis for both refrigerants composition and cell gas in insulating foams – Part II: Aging of insulating foams

In part I, a simple analysis protocol for refrigerant substances has been proposed for use in refrigerating plants or as blowing agents for insulating foams. The present work proposes original results obtained with that method to study the aging of insulating foams. The characteristics of insulating foam panels have been studied including the initial composition and heterogeneity of cell gases, as well as the aging of both unprotected and protected insulating panels. A special focus has been laid on aging at the junctions in refrigerated trucks panels. Indeed, insulation boxes for refrigerated trucks are usually made of various foam panels covered by a single gas-tight facing. A quicker aging was observed under the facing in the foam panels' junction areas, and we could assert that the global aging of the refrigerated trucks box mainly results from the aging of the assemblies (sides and junctions).