Evidence map›Paper›PMID 41681214›Full record

ArticleMaterials (Basel, Switzerland)2026

Comparative Thermal and Fire Behavior of Rigid Polyurethane (PUR) and Polyisocyanurate (PIR) Foams Formulated with Recycled Poly(ethylene terephthalate) (PET) Polyols-Part 1.

Mateusz Skowron, Urszula Lelek-Borkowska, Karolina Kaczmarska

Abstract read
In one paragraph

Article in Materials (Basel, Switzerland), 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 1 paper.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
1citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

1 citing paper in PubMed.

  1. Article
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

3 authors.

Mateusz SkowronFaculty of Foundry Engineering, AGH University of Krakow, Reymonta 23 St., 30-059 Krakow, Poland.ORCID 0009-0003-7302-3393
Urszula Lelek-BorkowskaFaculty of Foundry Engineering, AGH University of Krakow, Reymonta 23 St., 30-059 Krakow, Poland.ORCID 0000-0001-8525-7064
Karolina KaczmarskaFaculty of Foundry Engineering, AGH University of Krakow, Reymonta 23 St., 30-059 Krakow, Poland.ORCID 0000-0002-4278-5921

Funding

AGH University of Kraków 501.00 170000 10000 (16.16.170.654/B02)
6 · The paper itself

Abstract

Rigid polyurethane (PUR) and polyisocyanurate (PIR) foams are widely used as thermal insulation materials due to their excellent thermal conductivity and low density. However, fire resistance remains a critical property determining their safe application in construction, transportation, and energy systems. This study provides a comparative overview of the fire behavior of PUR and PIR foams, focusing on structural aspects, decomposition mechanisms, flame retardancy, and performance of emission of toxic gases during the combustion process. Despite extensive studies on PUR and PIR foams, systematic comparative investigations addressing the combined influence of recycled PET-based polyester polyols, isocyanurate content, and fire-related properties-including thermal degradation, heat release, and toxic gas emissions-remain limited. PIR foams, characterized by higher isocyanate indices and the presence of isocyanurate rings, show superior thermal stability, reduced heat release rates, and enhanced char formation compared with PUR foams. Experimental analysis of thermal degradation (TGA/DTG) and heat release (cone calorimetry) confirms that PIR foams demonstrate higher resistance to ignition and slower fire propagation. The results emphasize the critical role of molecular architecture and crosslink density in shaping the fire performance of rigid foams, highlighting PIR systems as advanced insulation solutions for applications requiring stringent fire safety standards. The PIR foam was prepared using a polyester polyol derived from recycled PET, which could help in achieving better fire properties during the combustion process. Compared with PUR foams, PIR foams exhibited an approximately 50% reduction in peak heat release rate, an increase in char yield from about 3 wt.% to over 22 wt.%, and a shift of the main thermal degradation peak by approximately 55 °C toward higher temperatures, indicating substantially enhanced fire resistance.

Indexed as

fire behaviorfire propertiesflame spreadignitionpolyester polyolpolyisocyanurate (PIR)polyurethane (PUR)recycled PETthermal conductivitythermal insulation

Identifiers

PMID41681214
PMCPMC12897936

What OpenQuestion holds

Textmetadata
LicenceCC BY
Read underepoch 390

Registered trials

None linked

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.