Material choice can play a vital role in the longevity and performance of a custom removable insulation blanket and SUM Ltd offers a wide range of materials to choose from. From attenuating sounds to insulating against high temperatures, mineral wool insulation is one of our most popular insulation materials to use.
It was by chance that mineral wool was discovered. More than half a century ago, it was observed that volcanic lava from an erupting volcano could be whipped into wooly tufts by prevailing winds. Shortly after, factories replicated this process to produce the insulation material we know today.
What is mineral wool?
Mineral wool is non-metallic, inorganic, water-repellent insulation material consisting of basalt rock, slag, and a resin binder. Coke, a grey, hard and porous material with a high carbon content, is used as fuel to heat these ingredients as hot as 3000°F or 1650°C, creating molten lava. This molten lava is whipped into thin strands approximately 15-20 micrometres thick and rapidly air-cooled using an air jet or a spinning wheel. The strands are then combined with a resin binder and reactive hydrophobe to further improve the mineral wool’s hydrophobic properties. Finally, the mineral wool is layered, compressed, and cured to its desired density and thickness, ready to be packaged and shipped.
Mineral wool insulation has several key properties:
- Density: Mineral wool is relatively denser than other forms of insulating material such as aerogel or fiberglass insulation.
- Thermal conductivity: Mineral wool has a low thermal conductivity due to its manufacturing process.
- Water affinity: Mineral wool is naturally hydrophobic as it is made from basalt rock. These hydrophobic properties are further enhanced by combining a hydrophobic compound to the insulation.
- Recycled material percentage: Mineral wool uses approximately 70% recycled materials like slag from the steel industry.
What are the benefits of using mineral wool insulation?
- Sound attenuation: Mineral wool is an excellent material to attenuate mid to high frequencies from internal or external sources.
- Thermal insulation: Insulation blankets using mineral wool can withstand up to 1000°C or 1832°F.
- Water-repellent: As minerals are made from basalt rocks, mineral wool is naturally water-repellent and further enhanced with a reactive hydrophobe.
- Easy installation process: Custom removable insulation blankets with mineral wool insulation is quick and easy to install thanks to its tool-less design. Maintenance and repair personnel only require 5 minutes to remove and reapply blankets.
- High r-value per dollar: Mineral wool insulation has an r-value of 4.6 per inch at a relatively low cost.
What are the applications for mineral wool insulation?
Mineral wool insulation’s versatility offers a wide range of applications:
- Sound Insulation: Using mineral wool as your preferred choice of insulation material can absorb and dampen sounds, significantly reducing noise levels.
- Employee personal protection: Adding a barrier such as mineral wool insulation between equipment with high temperature surfaces drastically reduces the risk of burns. Equipment such as steam pipes and steam traps may also be a high-risk area for employees.
- Fire protection: In the event of a fire, mineral wool insulation can reduce the risk of property and equipment damage for a full 30 minutes.
- High-humidity settings: A mineral wool insulation blanket is capable of handling high humidity due to its hydrophobic characteristics, making it suitable to protect components against water and corrosion.
Conclusion
What starts as solid rocks that transforms into fleecy, web-like material, mineral wool’s wide variety of use case scenarios assists our everyday lives and SUM Ltd can help integrate it into your next custom removable insulation blanket.
SUM Ltd builds custom-fitted insulation blankets for every project. To us, perfection is the only standard, and a job well done is a blanket that precisely matches every bend, curve, or loop of your instrument. To achieve this, our dedicated staff members always measure and remeasure your instrument. After all, we are firm believers of measuring twice and cutting once.
Our attention to build quality has earned us the trust of companies around the world. You can find our insulation on North Sea drilling platforms, Argentinian instruments, or right at home in BC ships and mines. If you need assistance with choosing the right materials for your custom insulation blanket, book a consultation with SUM Ltd today.