What is insulation foam made of

Thermal insulation foam is a kind of heat insulation and thermal insulation material widely used in construction, industry, transportation and other fields. It has good thermal insulation, sound absorption and fireproof characteristics, which can effectively reduce heat transfer and thus improve energy utilization efficiency. Insulation foam is commonly used in walls, roofs, pipelines, air conditioning systems and other scenarios that require thermal or acoustic insulation.

The main materials used in the production of insulation foam

  1. glass fiber

    Glass fiber is one of the most common materials used to make insulation foam. It is made by pulling molten glass into fine filaments, which are then processed to form a fiber-like structure. Fiberglass insulation foam has the following characteristics:

    1. Advantages:
      1. Low thermal conductivity and excellent thermal insulation properties.
      2. High temperature resistance, can withstand temperatures of up to 500°C or more.
      3. Non-combustible, with good fire resistance.
      4. It can withstand temperatures of up to 500°C or more. iv. Chemically stable and resistant to corrosion.
    2. Disadvantages:
      1. Fibers are brittle, easy to produce dust during construction, irritating to skin and respiratory tract.
      2. Long-term use may cause performance degradation due to humidity.
    3. Application: Suitable for building walls, roofs, pipeline insulation and thermal insulation of industrial equipment.

  2. rock wool

    Rock wool is a fiber-like material made from natural rocks (such as basalt, dolomite) and slag as the main raw material, which is melted at high temperature and added with appropriate amount of binder. The characteristics of rock wool insulation foam are as follows:

    1. Advantages:
      1. It has excellent fireproof performance and belongs to Class A non-combustible material.
      2. Good sound-absorbing effect, suitable to be used as sound insulation material.
      3. Excellent high temperature resistance, can withstand temperatures above 600°C. iv. Chemically stable, not easy to be
      4. chemically stable, not easy to age.
    2. Disadvantages
      1. Higher energy consumption in the production process, relatively poor environmental protection. ii.
      2. The construction will also produce a small amount of dust, need to pay attention to protection.
    3. Application: Widely used in industrial kilns, ships, building exterior wall and roof insulation.

  3. Ceramic Fiber

    Ceramic fiber is a high-performance thermal insulation material made from high-purity alumina and silica, which is melted at high temperature. The features of ceramic fiber insulation foam include:

    1. Advantages:
      1. Excellent high temperature resistance, can withstand high temperatures over 1000°C.
      2. Low density and light weight, easy to install.
      3. Strong resistance to thermal shock, can quickly adapt to temperature changes.
      4. good chemical stability, not easy to react with acid and alkali.
    2. Disadvantages:
      1. Higher cost, usually used in high-end fields.
      2. In some cases, it may release tiny fibers, which is a potential risk to human health.
    3. Applications: Mainly used in high temperature industrial equipment, kiln linings, aerospace, etc.

  4. Polyester Fiber

    Polyester fiber insulation foam is made of polyester as the main raw material, through the process of melt spinning and needling reinforcement. It is characterized by:

    1. Advantages:
      1. Good softness, easy to cut and install.
      2. Harmless to human body, no dust pollution, better environmental performance.
      3. Good moisture resistance, suitable for humid environment.
    2. Disadvantages:
      1. Poor performance in high temperature resistance, generally can only withstand temperatures of about 100℃. ii.
      2. Fireproof performance is not as good as glass fiber and rock wool.
    3. Application: Suitable for interior decoration, automobile interior, household appliances and other occasions.

  5. Aerogel

    Aerogel is a new type of nanoporous material made of silica or other metal oxides with ultra-low thermal conductivity. The characteristics of aerogel insulation foam are as follows:

    1. Advantages:
      1. Extremely low thermal conductivity, one of the most efficient insulation materials available.
      2. It is one of the most efficient insulation materials available. ii. Light weight, thin thickness and space saving. iii.
      3. Good fire resistance and high temperature resistance. iv. Long service life, not easy to be aged. viii.
      4. Long service life, not easy to age.
    2. Disadvantages:
      1. High manufacturing cost, expensive. ii.
      2. Low strength, fragile, need special protection. c) Applications: Mainly used in high-end buildings.
    3. Application: mainly used in high-end construction, aerospace, low temperature storage and transportation.