Troubleshooting
When the foam goes wrong, in the order to check it
Eight symptoms, three causes each, one action per cause. The first column is what your operator sees; the last column is what to do before changing anything else.
| Symptom | Likely causes | Action |
|---|---|---|
| Foam collapses after dispensing | Moisture on the substrate · over-catalysed system · pass too thick | Dry the substrate, check the drum temperature, apply in two passes. |
| Foam shrinks within 24 h | Density too low · cold substrate · wrong isocyanate share | Confirm drum temperature and the grade before changing anything — most shrinkage is a cold-drum problem. |
| Surface stays sticky | Too little moisture in the air · film too thick · UV exposure before cure | Mist the substrate, reduce pass thickness, and cover if it is an exposed joint. |
| Cells are coarse and uneven | Air whipped in during stirring · screen missing · grade at the cold end of its window | Slow the stirrer, fit the screen, warm the drum to the middle of the window. |
| Valve blocks between cans | Filler settling · filter overdue · long dwell time with the valve open | Keep the recirculation running, log the filter, close the valve between fills. |
| Can deforms after gassing | Over-pressure at 40 °C · thin-wall can · gassing a cold can at a warm setting | Re-check the gas pressure against the can maker's limit, and confirm the can batch. |
| Adhesion fails at the frame | Dust or release agent on the substrate · wet surface · wrong grade for the joint | Clean and prime per the SOP, dry the joint, then check the grade against the joint width. |
| Output is short of the card | Cold drum (viscosity up) · partial blockage · pump wear | Bring the drum to temperature first; if output is still short, inspect the filter and the pump before touching the formulation. |
Every action in the last column is something a shift leader can do without calling us. That is deliberate: the call should be for the cases the table cannot answer.
Send the symptom you are seeing — we answer with the check order.
Technology brand
Request the technology package index
- 1 tonne minimum, five 200 L drums
- SDS, COA and Form E with every shipment
- We reply within 24 hours, Monday to Saturday.