Thermal Insulators

INTRODUCTION
THERMAL INSULATION
▪ Thermal insulation is the reduction of heat transfer (the transfer
of thermal energy between objects of differing temperature) between
objects in thermal contact or in range of radiated influence. Thermal
insulation can be achieved with specially engineered methods or
processes, as well as with suitable object shapes and materials.
▪ Heat flow is an inevitable consequence of contact between objects of
differing temperature. Thermal insulation provides a region of
insulation in which thermal conduction is reduced or thermal
radiation is reflected rather than absorbed by the lower-temperature
body.
▪ The insulating capability of a material is measured with thermal
conductivity (k).
THERMAL INSULATORS

▪ A thermal insulator is something that prevents heat from moving from one
place to another. There are 3 main ways that heat can travel: convection,
conduction, and radiation. Typically the phrase 'thermal insulator' refers to
a material that blocks conduction.
▪ Thermal insulation materials are specifically designed to reduce the heat
flow by limiting heat conduction, convection, radiation or all three while
performing one or more of the following functions:
▪ Conserving energy by reducing heat loss or gain
▪ Controlling surface temperatures for personnel protection and comfort
▪ Facilitating vapor flow and water condensation of a process
▪ Increasing operating efficiency of heating/ventilating/cooling, plumbing,
steam, process and power systems found in commercial and industrial
installations.
▪ Assisting mechanical systems in meeting standard criteria in food and
cosmetic plants.
There are three general material types into which thermal insulation
materials can be categorized.

FIBROUS INSULATIONS
Fibrous insulations are composed of small diameter fibers which finely
divide the air space. The fibers may be perpendicular or parallel to the
surface being insulated, and they may or may not be bonded together.
Silica, glass, rock wool, slag wool and alumina silica fibers are used. The
most widely used insulations of this type are glass fiber and mineral
wool.
CELLULAR INSULATIONS
Cellular insulations contain small individual cells separated from each other. The
cellular material may be glass or foamed plastic such as polystyrene (closed cell),
polyurethane, polyisocyanurate, polyolefin, or elastomer.

GRANULAR INSULATIONS
Granular insulations have small nodules which contain voids or hollows. These
are not considered true cellular materials since gas can be transferred between
the individual spaces. This type may be produced as a loose or pourable material,
or combined with a binder and fibers to make a rigid insulation. Examples of
these insulations are calcium silicate, expanded vermiculite, perlite, cellulose,
diatomaceous earth and expanded polystyrene.
Factors influencing performance

Insulation performance is influenced by many factors the most

prominent of which include:

• Thermal conductivity ("k" or "λ" value)

• Surface emissivity ("ε" value)

• Insulation thickness

• Density

• Specific heat capacity

• Thermal bridging

Note: the factors influencing performance may vary over time as

material ages or environmental conditions change.
Thermal Insulators
Insulation materials can be divided into organic and non-organic
groups (mineral fiber, glass wool, perlites) according to their raw
materials. Organic materials can be subdivided into natural (cork,
cotton, wool) and synthetic (polyurethane rigid foam,
polystyrene) materials.

• Polyurethane foam
• Expanded polystyrene
• Fibreglass
• Cork
POLYURETHANE FOAM

• It has good thermal insulating properties

• low moisture-vapour permeability

• High resistance to water absorption

• Relatively high mechanical strength and low density

EXPANDED POLYSTYRENE

• They are flammable, although fire-retardant grades are

available

• They break down gradually when exposed to direct sunlight

• They react with solvents used in the installation of fibreglass

reinforced plastic as well as with other organic solvents (petrol,
kerosene, acetone, etc.).
FIBREGLASS
• high resistance to fire

• high resistance to microbiological attack

• good resistance to most chemicals

• available in a variety of presentations

• low thermal conductivity

• poor structural strength or compression

resistance
CORK
• It can only be used up to temperatures of 65 °C

• It has good thermal insulating effectiveness

• Is fairly resistant to compression and is difficult to burn

• Its main technical limitation is the tendency to absorb

moisture with an average permeance to water vapour of
12.5 g cm m-2 day-1 mmHg-1
APPLICATIONS BASED ON TYPES
Maintaining acceptable temperatures in buildings (by heating and
cooling) uses a large proportion of global energy consumption. Building
insulations also commonly use the principle of small trapped air-cells
as explained above, e.g. fiberglass (specifically glass wool), cellulose,
rock wool, polystyrene foam, urethane foam, vermiculite, perlite, cork,
etc.

When well insulated, a building:

•Is energy-efficient, thus saving the owner money.
•Provides more uniform temperatures throughout the space..
•Lowers the carbon footprint of a building.

Many forms of thermal insulation also reduce noise and vibration, both
coming from the outside and from other rooms inside a building, thus
producing a more comfortable environment.

Window insulation film can be applied in weatherization applications

to reduce incoming thermal radiation in summer and loss in winter.
1. FIBERGLASS

• Fiberglass is the most common insulation used in modern

times. Because of how it is made, by effectively weaving fine
strands of glass into an insulation material, fiberglass is able
to minimize heat transfer.
• Fiberglass is an excellent non-flammable insulation material
with R-values ranging from R-2.9 to R-3.8 per inch..
• Used for ceilings and walls.

2. MINERAL WOOL

• Mineral wool actually refers to several different types of

insulation. However, it is not combustible. When used in
conjunction with other, more fire resistant forms of
insulation, mineral wool can definitely be an effective way
of insulating large areas. Mineral wool has an R-value
ranging from R-2.8 to R-3.5.
• Used for pipe insulation, sound insulation and the mineral
wool batts are used in walls.
3. WOOD FIBER

• Wood fiber insulation is available as loose fill, flexible batts and

rigid panels for all thermal and sound insulation uses.
• It can be used as internal insulation : between studs, joists or
ceiling rafters, under timber floors to reduce sound
transmittance, against masonry walls or externally : using a rain
screen cladding or roofing, or directly plastered/rendered, over
timber rafters or studs or masonry structures as external
insulation to reduce thermal bridges.
4. CELLULOSE

• Cellulose insulation is perhaps one of the most eco-friendly

forms of insulation.
• Cellulose is made from recycled cardboard, paper, and other
similar materials and comes in loose form.

Cellulose has an R-value between R-3.1 and R-3.7. Some

recent studies on cellulose have shown that it might be an
excellent product for use in minimizing fire damage. Because of
the compactness of the material. Loose-fill materials can be blown
into attics, finished wall cavities, and hard-to-reach areas.
5. POLYURETHANE FOAM

• While not the most abundant of insulations, polyurethane

foams are an excellent form of insulation.
• Nowadays, polyurethane foams use non-chlorofluorocarbon
(CFC) gas for use as a blowing agent. This helps to decrease the
amount of damage to the ozone layer. They are relatively light,
weighing approximately two pounds per cubic foot (2 lb/ft^3).
They have an R-value of approximately R-6.3 per inch of
thickness.
• Another advantage of this type of insulation is that it is fire
resistant.
6. POLYSTYRENE

• Polystyrene is a waterproof thermoplastic foam which is

an excellent sound and temperature insulation material.
It comes in two types, expanded (EPS) and extruded
(XEPS) also known as Styrofoam.
• The more costly XEPS has a R-value of R-5.5 while EPS is
R-4. Polystyrene insulation has a uniquely smooth
surface which no other type of insulation possesses.

7. SPRAY FOAM

• Spray foam is a type of insulation that is

sprayed in place through a gun.
• Spray foam insulation is sprayed onto concrete
slabs, into wall cavities of an unfinished wall,
against the interior side of sheathing, or
through holes drilled in sheathing or drywall
into the wall cavity of a finished wall.
ASBESTOS

Asbestos once found common use as an insulation material in

homes and buildings because it is fireproof, a good thermal and
electrical insulator, and resistant to chemical attack and wear.
It has been found that asbestos can cause cancer when in
friable form (that is, when likely to release fibers into the air -
when broken, jagged, shredded, or scuffed).
When found in the home, asbestos often resembles
grayish-white corrugated cardboard coated with cloth or
canvas, usually held in place around pipes and ducts with metal
straps. Things that typically might contain asbestos:
• Boiler and furnace insulation.
• Heating duct wrapping.
• Pipe insulation ("lagging").
• Ducting and transit pipes within slabs.
• Acoustic ceilings.
• Textured materials.
• Resilient flooring.
• Blown-in insulation.
• Roofing materials and felts.
ADVANTAGES

▪ Due to thermal insulation, the room remains cooler in summer and warmer in
winter than outside. Hence, a room provided with thermal insulation gives
comfort both in summer and winter.
▪ Energy Saving: Due to thermal insulation transfer of heat between inside and
outside of the room is restricted. This results in less quantity of energy required
for maintaining the desired temperature in the room.
▪ Prevention of thermal stress on roofs. Due to thermal stresses, roof decks tend
to crack. These would be reduced to a great extent.
▪ Generally over-the-deck insulation materials are much lighter than the currently
used brickbat coba or concrete, resulting in reduced deadweight on the roof
slab.
▪ coba or concrete, resulting in reduced deadweight on the roof slab.
▪ Non-Toxic, Environmental friendly solutions.
▪ Energy saving resulting in reduced costs of
▪ Running cost of Air-conditioning.
▪ Capital equipment cost reduction.
DISADVATAGES

▪ Loss of thermal mass resulting in loss of heat and cooling storage with slow
dispersal ability.
▪ Loss of thermal flow into building fabric resulting it in staying colder and wetter
for longer periods thereby reducing its thermal value with increased risk of frost
damage to external faces.
▪ Risk of interstitial condensation. This can cause rotting of concealed timbers
built into the structure.
▪ Thermal bridging problems.
▪ There area significant number of buildings with mortar droppings on ties within
the cavity which result in penetrating dampness.
▪ Settlement and saturation of cavity-fill leading to cold bridging
MARKET SURVEY

▪ Rock wool
8.4mts minimum 50mm thick Rs12000
▪ Glass wool
1mt 50mm thick Rs130
▪ Fiber glass
2mm thick Rs25/sqft
▪ Nitrile Foam Insulation Tube, Class O,
Inner Diameter - 1 3/8 inch (34.9mm)
& Wall Thickness - 13 mm, Pack of 1
pcs Rs495.00
CATALOGUE AND PRICE LIST

http://www.kingspaninsulation.eu/getattachment/Price-List-In
ternational-Sales-March-2014.pdf.aspx

http://www.armacell.com/C1256AF100412A28/F/NT01892CB2
/$FILE/ArmacellPricelist2014-15_ROI_%E2%82%AC_DIGITAL.pd
f

http://www.feelgoodinsulation.com.au/PDFs/Knauf_Insulation
_Price_List_LR.pdf

http://uk.foamglas.com/__/frontend/handler/document.php?i
d=120&type=42
THANK YOU
BY- PRIYANKA
LAHARI
NIHLA
MADHURI .R
SHILPA SHREE