Does expanding foam conduct electricity before it dries?

[Commander Kinsey]

Does expanding foam conduct electricity before it dries? Would it be safe for it to come into contact with live electrical wires before it sets?

[jon]

Give it a try!

[Commander Kinsey]

I will test it with a safer circuit first, but I wanted to know before I spent money on some.

It's amazing, a google search shows everyone talking about heat insulation and wires may get too hoot, or the PVC could corrode, but nobody once mentions electrical conductivity. Spray it around a socket, some gets inside, whoops!

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I googled your question:

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I googled your question:

[Commander Kinsey]

That doesn't mention if it conducts electricity as you spray it. The solvent could be conductive.

[invalid unparseable]

With alcohols and isocyanates it probably is.

[Commander Kinsey]

The only thing I've read is acetone can be used to dissolve it when you want rid of it.

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I am probably wrong as I read conductivity requires free ions. I was thinking that the polar compounds might be conductive.

[Commander Kinsey]

I've ordered a can, I'll let you know....

[Brian]

The solvent and other chemicals are almost certainly covalently bonded. Therefore almost certainly non-conductive.

[Brian]

The solvent and other chemicals are almost certainly covalently bonded. Therefore almost certainly non-conductive.

[Commander Kinsey]

I was wondering because paint seems to have gone all water based to please the treehuggers so I though there might be water in this too.

Also I've read humidity cures the foam faster, so water reacts with it in some way.

[Clare Snyder]

Can't speak for ALL foams but I used some to seal around outlet boxes on external walls of an in-adequately insulated house and he foam sparked and sparkled as it dried/set a little daster than normal. It didn't pop the breaker and it didn't start a fire, but I as more than a little bit concerned!!!!!

[Clare Snyder]

The stuff I used tat was conductive before setting was white, not yellow - can't remember the brand but it came in a can with a yellow top and it was not "great stuff". It was "low expanding gap filling" foam

[Commander Kinsey]

Considering you're holding the steel can.....

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Wiki gives chemistry:

A little water in the polyol will generate carbon dioxide as the foaming agent and cured resin is polyurethane-polyurea.

[jon]

use a megger

[alan_m]

Not after it has cured.

[Brian Gaff]

Depends on the foam. How flammable is what you have. It certainly melts and gives of nasty fumes. I'd not say its conductive, but of course could easily get damp in it, Some have fungicide additives,. I think keeping a freeflow of air wherever the electrics are is good and after all you might want to get at it later on without digging foam out of the little nooks and crannies. Tell you what it seems to go on expanding after you might think its dry. We had some windows replaced and the used it and plastered over the top, about 4 months later the foam pushed off a chunk of te plaster, with a big bubble. Brian