ASTM C1482-01 - 10.3.2002
 
1. Scope

1.1 This specification covers the composition and physical properties of lightweight, flexible open-cell polyimide foam insulation intended for use as thermal and sound-absorbing insulation for temperatures from -328 up to +572o F (-200 and +300o C) in commercial and industrial environments.

1.1.1 Annex A1 includes faced polyimide foam as specified by the U.S. Navy for marine applications.

1.1.2 This standard is designed as a material specification and not a design document. Physical property requirements vary by application and temperature. No single test is adequate for estimating either the minimum or maximum use temperature of polyimide foam under all possible conditions. Consult the manufacturer for specific recommendations and physical properties for specific applications.

1.1.3 The use of an appropriate vapor retarder is required in all applications where condensation could occur and cause a decrease in thermal performance or affect other system properties.

1.2 The values stated in inch-pound units are to be regarded as the standard. The System International equivalents of the inch-pound units are given in parentheses for information only and may be approximate.

1.3 This standard does not purport to address all of the safety concerns associated with its use. It is the responsibility of the user to establish appropriate safety and health practices and determine the applicability of regulatory requirements prior to use.

Note 1—The subject matter of this material specification is not covered by any other ASTM specification. There is no known ISO standard covering the subject of this standard.

 
2. Referenced Documents

C1045-19(2026)

Standard Practice for Calculating Thermal Transmission Properties Under Steady-State Conditions

C165-23

Standard Test Method for Measuring Compressive Properties of Thermal Insulations

C168-25

Standard Terminology Relating to Thermal Insulation

C177-19(2026)

Standard Test Method for Steady-State Heat Flux Measurements and Thermal Transmission Properties by Means of the Guarded-Hot-Plate Apparatus

C302-13(2022)

Standard Test Method for Density and Dimensions of Preformed Pipe-Covering-Type Thermal Insulation

C335-05a

Standard Test Method for Steady-State Heat Transfer Properties of Pipe Insulation

C390-08(2024)

Standard Practice for Sampling and Acceptance of Thermal Insulation Lots

C411-26

Standard Test Method for Hot-Surface Performance of High-Temperature Thermal Insulation

C421-26

Standard Test Method for Tumbling Friability of Preformed Block-Type and Preformed Pipe-Covering-Type Thermal Insulation

C1114-06(2019)

Standard Test Method for Steady-State Thermal Transmission Properties by Means of the Thin-Heater Apparatus

C1338-25

Standard Test Method for Determining Fungi Resistance of Insulation Materials and Facings

D543-21

Standard Practices for Evaluating the Resistance of Plastics to Chemical Reagents

C634-22

Standard Terminology Relating to Building and Environmental Acoustics

C665-24

Standard Specification for Mineral-Fiber Blanket Thermal Insulation for Light Frame Construction and Manufactured Housing

D638-22

Standard Test Method for Tensile Properties of Plastics

E662-21ae1

Standard Test Method for Specific Optical Density of Smoke Generated by Solid Materials (Includes all amendments and changes 9/16/2021).

DOD-E-24607

Enamel, Interior, Nonflaming (Dry), Chlorinated Alkyd Resin, Semigloss (Metric)

E800-26

Standard Guide for Measurement of Gases Present or Generated During Fires

E1354-26a

Standard Test Method for Heat and Visible Smoke Release Rates for Materials and Products Using an Oxygen Consumption Calorimeter (Includes all amendments and changes 11/5/2026).

E84-26a

Standard Test Method for Surface Burning Characteristics of Building Materials (Includes all amendments and changes 4/15/2026).

E96/E96M-24a

Standard Test Methods for Gravimetric Determination of Water Vapor Transmission Rate of Materials (Includes all amendments and changes 11/20/2024).

E176-24a

Standard Terminology of Fire Standards (Includes all amendments and changes 12/9/2024).

E795-23

Standard Practices for Mounting Test Specimens During Sound Absorption Tests

E2231-26a

Standard Practice for Specimen Preparation and Mounting of Pipe and Duct Insulation Materials to Assess Surface Burning Characteristics (Includes all amendments and changes 8/26/2026).

C1058-03

Standard Practice for Selecting Temperatures for Evaluating and Reporting Thermal Properties of Thermal Insulation

C1304-23

Standard Test Method for Assessing the Odor Emission of Thermal Insulation Materials

C1559-15(2021)

Standard Test Method for Determining Wicking of Fibrous Glass Blanket Insulation (Aircraft Type)

D395-18(2025)

Standard Test Methods for Rubber Property—Compression Set

D2126-25

Standard Test Method for Response of Rigid Cellular Plastics to Thermal and Humid Aging

D3574-25

Standard Test Methods for Flexible Cellular Materials—Slab, Bonded, and Molded Polyurethane Foams

D3675-26

Standard Test Method for Surface Flammability of Flexible Cellular Materials Using a Radiant Heat Energy Source

C585-22

Standard Practice for Inner and Outer Diameters of Thermal Insulation for Nominal Sizes of Pipe and Tubing

C423-23e1

Standard Test Method for Sound Absorption and Sound Absorption Coefficients by the Reverberation Room Method (Includes all amendments and changes 8/9/2024).

C447-15(2022)

Standard Practice for Estimating the Maximum Use Temperature of Thermal Insulations

C518-21

Standard Test Method for Steady-State Thermal Transmission Properties by Means of the Heat Flow Meter Apparatus