Page 173 - CW E-Magazine (20-5-2025)

Special Report

resistant forms of insulation. However, surface which no other type of insulation choice as an insulator as well. Some
there are certain downsides to this mate- possesses. health hazardous materials that were
rial as well, such as the allergies that used in the past as insulation and are
some people may have to newspaper Typically, the foam is created or cut now outlawed, unavailable, or uncom-
dust. Also, finding individuals skilled into blocks, ideal for wall insulation. monly used are vermiculite, perlite,
in using this type of insulation is rela- The foam is flammable and needs to be and urea-formaldehyde. These mate-
tively hard compared to, say, fiberglass. coated in a fireproofing chemical called rials have reputations for containing
Still, cellulose is a cheap and effective Hexabromocyclododecane (HBCD). formaldehyde or asbestos, which has
means of insulating (Figure-3). HBCD has been brought under fire re- essentially removed them from the list
cently for health and environmental of commonly used insulation materials.
Polyurethane foam risks associated with its use (Figure-5)(3). (Figure-6).
While not the most abundant of in-
sulations, polyurethane foams are an
excellent form of insulation. Nowadays,
polyurethane foams use non-chloro-
fluorocarbon (CFC) gas for use as a
blowing agent. This helps to decrease
the amount of damage to the ozone
layer. They are relatively light, weigh-
ing approximately 2lb/ft ). They have
3
Fig. 6: A typical cross-section of perlite
an R-value of approximately R-6.3 per insulation material showing presence of
inch of thickness. There are also low- Fig. 5: Polystyrene Insulation Blocks used asbestos
for insulation of walls
density foams that can be sprayed into
areas that have no insulation. These other common insulation materials Best thermal insulation material for
types of polyurethane insulation tend Although the items listed above steam pipes
to have approximately R-3.6 rating per are the most common insulation mate- The best material for steam pipe
inch of thickness. Another advantage of rials, they are not the only ones used. insulation is the type you can remove
this type of insulation is that it is fire Recently, materials like aerogel (used to perform regular inspections. While
resistant (Figure-4). by NASA for the construction of heat- fiberglass has been a popular choice in
resistant tiles, capable of withstanding the past, it cannot be taken off to allow
heat up to approximately 2000°F with for inspections, which means it’s no
little or no heat transfer), have become longer the best material for steam pipes.
affordable and available. One in parti-
cular is Pyrogel XT. It is one of the A Thermaxx insulation jacket is
most efficient industrial insulations in an ideal option for steam pipe insula-
the world. Its required thicknesses are tion. These jackets are easily installed
50-80% less than other insulation and removed when necessary, without
materials. Although a little more expen- requiring specialized skills, and the
Fig. 4: representative picture of Polyurethane sive than some of the other insulation insulation types used are determined
Insulation Material materials, Pyrogel is being used more by specific requirements. Thermaxx
Polystyrene and more for specific applications. Other jackets are available in numerous nor-
Polystyrene is a waterproof thermo- materials used can be ceramic fibre, mal pipe sizes, ranging from 2 to 24
plastic foam, which is an excellent flexible closed cell sheet insulation and inches. They are designed have a touch
sound and temperature insulation mass loaded vinyl. temperature of 120°F or less to reduce
material. It comes in two types, expanded energy loss and be more skin-friendly.
(EPS) and extruded (XEPS) also Other insulation materials include The jackets are best for steam pipe insu-
known as Styrofoam. The two types natural fibres such as hemp, sheep’s lation because they are customizable.
differ in performance ratings and cost. wool, cotton, and straw. Polyisocya-
The more costly XEPS has an R-value nurate, similar to polyurethane, is Mineral Wool vs. Fiberglass
of R-5.5 while EPS is R-4. Polystyrene a closed cell thermoset plastic with Mineral wool is made from steel
insulation has a uniquely smooth a high R-value making it a popular slag and basalt, making it more eco-

Chemical Weekly May 20, 2025 173

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