Thermal insulator and method for producing the same

摘要

A thermal insulator of the present invention includes a foam containing solidified CO2 gas. A method for producing the thermal insulator includes the steps of: mixing a metal compound selected from the group consisting of a metal oxide and a metal hydroxide, water, a polyol component, and an isocyanate component to generate a mixture; foaming the mixture in a container to generate closed-cells made of a water-foamed polyurethane; and allowing CO2 gas generated during the foaming step to react with the selected metal compound to solidify the CO2 gas, thereby depressurizing the closed-cells in the closed-celled foam.