The huge popularity of mineral wool is explained, first of all, by their low cost and excellent performance. This material can be used to insulate a wide variety of structures - walls, roofs and floors of private houses, pipelines, heating appliances, etc.
Creation process
As a raw material in the manufacture of such material as mineral wool slabs, a melt of volcanic rocks, glass and blast-furnace slag is used. This hot viscous substance is fed into a special centrifuge, in which (as a result of blowing with air) it turns into a fibrous mass. Next, binders are introduced into it. Usually phenol-formaldehyde resins act in their role. Next, sticky “cotton wool” enters under the rollers, which form an even layer from it. At the final stage, the material is cut into slabs of the desired size.
Mineral wool fibers can be arranged both in a chaotic manner and perpendicular to each other. The latter version of the material is called laminar, has a high density and degree of thermal conductivity, and is characterized by increased strength. Sometimes mineral wool boards are glued on one side with thick aluminum foil.
Degreefire resistance
The main advantage of mineral wool compared to other insulators is its incombustibility. It is allowed to use this material for warming surfaces, the temperature of which reaches up to +400 degrees Celsius. That is why mineral wool boards are an ideal insulator for boilers and furnaces of various types. Bas alt fibers begin to melt only after a two-hour exposure to a temperature of 1000 degrees. This is a very impressive figure. As for the ambient temperature, this material can withstand 750 degrees without harm to itself. The combustibility group of mineral plates is KM0. In the foil variety - KM1.
Degree of thermal conductivity
The main purpose of mineral wool is to protect houses, equipment and communications from the cold. The allowable thermal conductivity of this material is determined by GOST 4640-2011. This indicator fluctuates depending on the ambient temperature and can range from 0.038 W / (mK) at a temperature of +10 degrees to 0.070 W / (mK) at +300 degrees. Thus, in terms of its ability to retain heat, this material surpasses many modern insulators. This quality is due to the porous structure with a huge number of air spaces.
Density
This indicator for such material as thermal insulation mineral wool boards can fluctuate quite widely (30-220 kg/m3). The higher the density of the plate, the greater the distributed loads it canwithstand. According to this indicator, mineral wool can be conditionally classified into three categories:
- Low density (30-50kg/m3). Such wool is mainly used for warming horizontal surfaces.
- Medium density (60-75kg/m3). This variety is most often used to isolate various kinds of technical structures.
- High density (80-175kg/m3). These boards can be used to insulate walls inside or outside buildings.
- Very high density (180-200kg/m3). This variety is usually used for roof insulation.
The density of a material such as mineral wool boards is an indicator that determines only their ability to withstand loads. It practically does not affect the degree of thermal conductivity.
Waterproof
Low resistance to moisture penetration is one of the few drawbacks that mineral wool boards have. GOST to verify the compliance of this material with standards in terms of water resistance prescribes special tests. At the same time, samples (20-30 grams) are taken from different places on the plate. Then they are placed in a porcelain cup and calcined at a temperature of 600 degrees to remove organic impurities. Then the mass is ground into powder, moistened with a few drops of ethyl alcohol, after which a little hydrochloric acid is added. Next, the electrodes of the pH meter are lowered into the container. After ten minutes of stirring, the pH of the substance is measured. The water resistance of the material is determined byaverage pH value.
Mineral wool boards (GOST determines their water resistance in an amount of no more than 4-7 pH) absorb water quite well, while losing some of their thermal insulation properties. However, the degree of their moisture content by weight should not exceed 1%. To increase the resistance of the material to moisture, it is impregnated with special water repellents.
Vapor permeability
The advantages of such a material as mineral wool boards include, among other things, the ability to pass water molecules through. The vapor permeability coefficient of mineral wool is 48010-6 g/(mhPa). Compared to other modern heaters, this is the highest figure.
Fiber Arrangement
Random mineral wool has a specific gravity of 120-160 kg/m3 and a tensile strength of 10 kPa. This variety is usually produced in slabs 120-160 cm long and 50-60 cm wide. Bas alt wool with a perpendicular arrangement of fibers (lamellar) has a specific gravity of 80-120 kg/m3 and strength for a break of 80 kPa. The dimensions of the slabs of this variety are 120 x 20 cm. The thickness of the mineral wool slabs ranges from 30-100 mm.
Most Popular Brands
Most often in Russia, mineral wool of the TechnoNIKOL brand is used to insulate the structural elements of buildings. This manufacturer produces very high quality material that meets all GOST standards. Among other things, his undoubtedlow cost is considered an advantage.
Rockwool mineral wool boards are no less popular. Products of this manufacturer can be used for insulation of absolutely any structural elements and power equipment. Bas alt wool of this brand is available in a variety of sizes and densities.
Use area
Mineral wool boards are used for insulation:
- genders;
- ventilated facades;
- facades for plaster;
- roofs;
- walls from the inside and partitions;
- overlap;
- pipelines;
- stoves and chimneys;
- boilers;
- production equipment, etc.
Mineral wool is a very effective and reliable insulation. The combination of excellent performance with low cost makes it extremely popular with both individual developers and large industrial companies.
