Thermal Insulation

Thermal insulation is used to maintain a comfortable indoor temperature in buildings, to prevent heat loss from pipes and equipment and to protect against extreme temperatures in industrial processes. Because improper insulation can reduce energy efficiency and increase energy costs, thermal insulation is important for keeping these variables at optimum levels. Effective thermal insulation is a major player in diverse industries, including oil & gas , petrochemical, food & beverage, and manufacturing.

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Thermal insulation refers to materials or techniques used to reduce the transfer of heat between two surfaces or areas of different temperatures.

Corrosionpedia Explains Thermal Insulation

Thermal insulation's effectiveness is determined by thermal conductivity, which is the measure of the amount of heat that is transferred through the material. The lower the thermal conductivity, the better the insulation's ability to reduce heat transfer. The most common types of thermal insulation materials include fiberglass, mineral wool, foam board and spray foam.

Fiberglass insulation is made from small glass fibers that are woven into batts or rolls. It is inexpensive, easy to install and has a low thermal conductivity, making it a popular choice for residential and commercial buildings.

Mineral wool insulation is made from natural rock or blast furnace slag and is commonly used in high-temperature applications such as industrial furnaces and steam pipes.

Foam board insulation is made from polystyrene or polyurethane foam and is commonly used in building envelopes, roofs and foundations. It has a higher thermal resistance than fiberglass or mineral wool but is also more expensive. Spray foam insulation is a liquid mixture that is sprayed into walls, ceilings,and other areas to create an airtight barrier. It has a high thermal resistance and can also act as an air and moisture barrier.

Thermal insulation can also be accomplished through less common techniques such as reflective insulation, which uses reflective surfaces to reflect heat radiation, and thermal bridges, which are structural elements that connect the interior and exterior of a building and can cause heat loss.

Thermal insulation is important for energy efficiency and cost savings in buildings and industrial processes. While many applications can operate with conventional insulation materials, more advanced insulation is required for thermally demanding applications. Proper insulation can significantly reduce heating and cooling costs, increase comfort, and improve indoor air quality. It can also improve the efficiency of industrial processes by reducing heat loss and energy waste.

Thermal insulation refers to the many ways we attempt to inhibit the transfer of heat from one object to another. These two objects may be the hot and cold faces of processing equipment in industrial facilities or the interior and exterior of external walls in domestic properties. The contexts in which thermal insulation may be used are theoretically limitless.

Despite the vast range of applications available to functionalized insulating materials, they all provide similar fundamental benefits: Lower energy losses lead to greater efficiency which yields greater returns on investment (ROIs). Whether insulating residential cavity walls or shielding sensitive mechanics from high temperatures, all different types of insulation abide by these same simple principles.

In this article, Mid-Mountain Materials, Inc. explores some of the different types of thermal insulation and their applications in more detail.

Working Principles of Thermal Insulation

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Before outlining the various types of insulating materials used in high-temperature applications, it is worth reviewing some of the basic concepts of thermal conduction and insulation. Heat is a thermodynamic quantity of thermal energy that flows from one system to another when there is a temperature differential between the two. It is transferred via one of three different methods:

• Conduction
• Convection
• Radiation

Thermal insulation is typically used to limit heat transfer via conduction which requires objects to be in direct contact with one another. Some types of insulation utilize reflective coatings to prevent heat transfer via radiation, but in this article, we are mainly dealing with heat transfer between contacting objects.

The rate at which heat transfers between objects is determined by the thermal conductivity (k) of materials. Metals and ceramics with high thermal conductivities are often used for heat transfer applications. Silicon carbide, for example, with a nominal conductivity of 170 W/m-K, is routinely used to engineer high-temperature heating elements for industrial ovens and furnaces.

Vice versa, low thermal conductivities yield extremely high resistance values. Many silica-based materials boast resistance values of less than 2 W/m-K, which can effectively mitigate the absorption of heat to minimize transfer. Though the thermal conductivity of insulation materials is a critical factor in performance, many other properties must be considered, including:

• Density
• Specific heat capacity
• Thickness
• Thermal bridging

What Materials are Used in Thermal Insulation?

Naturally, materials with high heat resistance values are formatted in the densest and thickest formats possible to provide effective thermal insulation. Products based on fibrous and needled mats are among the most popular configurations as they can be manufactured, shipped, and installed quickly and efficiently. Flexible formats also provide a much-needed measure of versatility when it comes to wrapping thermal insulation around complex mechanisms or filling tight voids.

If you would like a more in-depth look at how our thermal insulation materials service harsh high-temperature environments, read our previous blog post: Thermal Insulation Fabrics for Steam Valve Jackets

However, the widespread historical use of asbestos in such formats highlighted the potential dangers inherent in certain materials. Despite an outstanding resistance value of 0.08 W/m-K, asbestos has known carcinogenic effects and is associated with a wide range of serious long-term health conditions.

At Mid-Mountain, we utilize high purity refractory ceramic fibers, silica-based fabrics, fiberglass mats, and many other types of insulating materials to ensure safe and optimal performance in any application area. Our industrial insulation systems offer unprecedented performance in some of the harshest industrial applications available. A selection of our formats available include:

• Die-cut gaskets
• Furnace lining seals
• Removable insulation blankets
• Pipe insulation

Thermal Insulation from Mid-Mountain Materials

Mid-Mountain Materials, Inc. is an industry-leading supplier of thermal insulation for demanding areas of application. For a full consultation on how our products provide tangible ROIs in thermal management applications, simply contact a member of the sales team today.

If you are looking for more details, kindly visit rubber foam thermal insulation.