The cells in this foam are sealed against one another, which is where the name comes from. That closed structure is responsible for nearly every advantage the material has. Gas trapped inside the cells gives it a thermal resistance of roughly R-7 per inch, well above open cell foam, fiberglass batt or blown-in cellulose. The same structure blocks moisture movement, so at two inches or more the material qualifies as its own vapor retarder and no separate poly sheet is needed. And because the foam cures hard rather than soft, it bonds to the framing and stiffens the assembly.
Modern closed cell foam is also blown with hydrofluoroolefin agents rather than the older HFC chemistry. HFOs have zero ozone depletion potential and a global warming potential below one, and the product lines we install meet current EPA climate regulations.