Not all insulation materials are designed to withstand extreme temperatures. High-temperature insulation is required in a multitude of applications such as manufacturing, turbines, stacks, pipes, exhaust, incinerators, and boilers. Several different industries rely on specialized insulation to carry out their essential processes.
Some Like it Hot
At its core, insulation is vital for preventing the transfer of heat. This reduces the amount of energy that is needed to raise or lower ambient temperatures while also acting to protect people and materials that are adjacent to the heat source from damage. In addition to this, high-temperature insulation must also offer:
- An elevated thermal resistance or R-value. Managing extreme temperatures means that thermal resistance must be high to combat the heat.
- Surface Emissivity. This describes the ability of a material to emit thermal radiation. This is important because they need to deflect a lot of heat efficiently.
- High Specific Heat Capacity. The chosen material must be able to absorb an extreme amount of heat before heating up and transferring it.
Insulation to Withstand the Heat
A common type of insulation used in high-temperature applications is granular insulation. This is one of the three different types of insulation: cellular, granular, and fibrous. Granular materials are made up of tiny nodules which contain hollow spaces. This is unlike cellular insulation because gases can be transferred between these areas. It can come in many forms from loose and pourable to rigid. Examples of these insulations are calcium silicate, expanded vermiculite, perlite, cellulose, diatomaceous earth and expanded polystyrene.
An Extreme Example – Perlite
Perlite is a naturally occurring siliceous volcanic rock. When heated it can expand between four and twenty times its original volume, making it a unique material even among other volcanic glasses. In its expanded form, it can handle temperatures upwards of 1800°F or 980°C. Because of this, it has been used in high-temperature applications in the steel and foundry industries such as ladle topping, hot topping and risering, in topping compounds, and even in exothermic and insulating shapes.
Granular insulation is commonly seen in high-temperature applications due to its unique properties. Having the right material is only half the battle, proper installation is key to the success of any specialized insulation. For all your high-temperature needs in the Calgary area, contact our team of experienced technicians today!
