The different thermal insulation materials
There are several types of insulation on the market. Some are easier to implement than others, more or less thick, more or less sensitive to humidity, more or less respectful of the environment, more or less expensive, and more or less efficient (i.e., more or less able to "resist" temperature variations in all seasons).
Two Isover thermal insulator categories:
- Mineral: Glasswool, Stonewool.
- Synthetic: Expanded or extruded polystyrene and polyurethane
Glasswool: the benchmark for thermal and acoustic insulation
Used for decades, glasswool is part of our "heritage" in terms of building insulation. Its thermal and acoustic properties no longer need to be proven. However, of course, due to technological innovations, today's glasswool is no longer that of the 1970s. Its technical characteristics, performance, and the formats in which it can be found have evolved.
Glasswool, mainly composed of cullet (recycled glass) and sand, is very easy to use due to its lightness, elasticity, and ability to be installed anywhere. Glasswool traps pockets of air between the fibres, providing excellent insulation.
It is available in different forms: rolls, flexible or semi-rigid panels to unroll and rigid boards.
Tangled and porous, its fiberglass mat structure traps air, giving this light and compact texture a solid thermal insulation power. Qualities also make it an excellent solution for sound insulation. Finally, glass wool is naturally non-combustible: it does not burn or spread flames in the event of a fire.
EPS: insulation for buildings, coldrooms, pipes and vessels
Synthetic insulators derived from petroleum, foam plastic insulation products include the family of expanded polystyrene (EPS).
Expanded polystyrene (EPS), white or gray, is made from the assembly of several molecules of styrene (polymerization), which gives it its name "polystyrene." It comes from spherical beads of small diameter (from 0.2 to 0.3 mm). Composed of 98% air, it consumes little raw material. As a result, it is a material that offers excellent insulation and is very economical. The applications of expanded polystyrene are multiple: floors, walls, terraces, or flat roofs.
Stonewool: thermal insulation for industry
Mineral wool for thermal and/or acoustic insulation and fire protection. For use in industrial applications and in the construction industry.
Thermal insulation is required for safety, to reduce heat loss and to increase sustainability of processes. There are numerous reasons for thermal insulation of equipment and processes:
- Personal protection
- Process security
- Reduce heat loss
- Reduce environmental impacts
- Improves sustainability through maximum thermal performance
