Do You Know the Advantages of Thermal Insulation Materials?

Thermal insulation materials are refractory products with low thermal conductivity, low heat storage, and a total porosity greater than 45% by volume. These two thermal properties are based on high porosity and are associated with the low density of these materials. This is also linked to adverse properties such as relatively low mechanical strength and susceptibility to corrosion due to easy infiltration by gases, steam, and molten substances.

These materials are used in thermal processing units to reduce heat losses and, therefore, increase energy efficiency.

The advantages of these insulation materials in industrial furnace engineering are clear:

• Optimized specific energy consumption

• Increased overall efficiency of high-temperature units

• Emission benefits / reduction of carbon dioxide emissions

• Reduced outer wall temperature

• Reduced installed mass and wall thickness

• Lower overall furnace structure weight (lighter steel shells, lower static requirements, etc.)

• Easy and fast installation

• Faster equipment start-up

• Increased equipment availability and, therefore, productivity due to shorter cycles, especially in batch-type equipment

• Improved product quality thanks to precise furnace temperature control
  
  
  

Thermal insulation materials are classified as follows:

• Insulating bricks and insulating firebricks (IFB)

• Fiber-based insulating products

• Other insulating materials
  
  
  

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Discover the Types of High-Temperature Fibrous Insulation

Fibrous Insulation

High-temperature fibrous insulations belong to the family of synthetically produced inorganic mineral wools, also known worldwide as MMMW (Man-Made Mineral Wool). These insulations are mainly used for thermal insulation in high-temperature processes.

Due to their excellent technical properties, these materials replace conventional refractories, such as bricks and castables, in various applications.

The beginning of their use dates back to the 1950s. Since the 1960s, and especially during the 1970s, they gained economic relevance mainly due to rising energy costs.

These insulations feature the following characteristics:

• Low density

• Low heat storage

• Low thermal conductivity

• High resistance to thermal shock

High-temperature insulating wools are divided into:

• Alkaline earth silicate (AES)

• Aluminosilicate or refractory ceramic fiber (ASW/RCF)

• Polycrystalline wool (PCW)
  
  
  

By definition, the term wool refers to a random accumulation of fibers of different lengths and diameters, whereas fibers are particles with a length-to-diameter ratio greater than 3:1.