High temperature insulation
Insulation prevents the transfer of heat and so reduces the energy required to raise temperatures and protects adjacent materials from heat damage. Since the dangers of using asbestos were identified, several alternatives have been developed for insulation in high temperature situations.
In the domestic context, exfoliated vermiculite offers a lightweight and versatile solution: it is pressed into boards, which can be cut with ordinary carpentry tools to fit around fireplaces and stoves, it is incorporated into cement for filling gaps in fireplaces or to cover outdoor brick ovens, and it can be spread loose in masonry cavities to improve fire safety and reduce heat loss. For insulating a flue, we produce cleverly designed wrap jackets made from glass fibre cloth and blanket which are quick and easy to fasten in place.
Important features of insulating products:
- Low Thermal Conductivity
- Surface Emissivity
- Density
- Thermal Bridging
- Heat Capacity
- Thickness of Insulation
Alternative substances used for high temperature insulation in industrial applications are calcium silicate and ceramic fibre. Calcium silicate is non fibrous, is available in easy to work boards and is most commonly used as backup insulation. Ceramic fibre has qualities of high resistance to thermal shock, low thermal conductivity and low heat storage, making it an efficient insulator. We produce ceramic fibre in the forms of board, paper, blanket and rope in different densities and with differing chemical compositions to facilitate its use across a range of applications including kiln and furnace linings.