Insulated bodies for refrigerated transport vehicles: past, present and future construction techniques

摘要

Refrigerated vehicles used for cold chain are generally built today with «sandwich» panels in whichthe insulation is generally made of polyurethane foam. The term polyurethane stands for a family ofinsulating materials that in addition to the polyurethane (PUR) also includes polyisocyanurate foams(PIR). Sometimes vehicles are also realized with expanded polystyrene (PSE). Constructiontechniques vary from one country to another and the insulation properties are obtained by means ofexpanding gases. These gases have undergone a process of evolution since 1970, whenchlorofluorocarbons (CFCs) were used for the construction of insulated vehicles. Design andtechnology continue to adapt to meet the regulatory requirements, improve the performance andreduce the environmental impact. This paper presents the evolution of construction techniques andmaterials used for the manufacture of insulated vehicles. Past, present and future trends in threekey regions: Europe, Asia and North America.