Working with incredibly high temperatures and potentially volatile materials on a daily basis means that when it comes to industrial furnaces, considerations around safety are of critical importance. …
In order to meet changing customer needs and rising demand for more choice, faster turnaround and better quality, many industries need to constantly look to innovative ways to increase efficiency. For many in manufacturing and similar industries, having effective high temperature thermal insulation for equipment and machinery is key to achieving this. A (relatively) recent innovation in high temperature insulation is microporous technology. …
In our previous blog post, we examined in detail five thermal insulation materials and their physical and thermal properties. In this post, we’re going to get into official thermal classification of insulating materials, their importance when it comes to selecting the right type of insulation and the applications of the materials in each classification.
High temperature insulation is vital in many manufacturing applications such as continuous processing, where operating temperatures should be controlled to achieve maximum efficiency and consistency, and foundry and steel, where effective thermal insulation can help to extend the life of equipment and provide additional safety measures. …
Some metals dissipate
heat more effectively than others, and this thermal conductivity is essential
in a range of applications. Thermal conductivity is the measure of a metal’s
ability to conduct heat. What this means is that that the metal acts to cool
temperatures, through a process of dissipation.
With rotary kilns, thermal management is the key to improved productivity and reduced downtime, leading to savings in both energy consumption and the cost of repairs and maintenance.
In most manufacturing processes, after raw materials, the most costly element involved is energy, which is why thermal insulation is critical. When it comes to the bottom line, thermal insulation is a valuable investment. It helps reduce a business’s operating costs and its carbon footprint, and drive the efficiency of its processes.
Fire protection is an inherent requirement in many industries, and it is essential for the safety of buildings. For most of the twentieth century, a major solution to fire protection and safety was asbestos. Asbestos was very much seen as a wonder mineral. Unfortunately, while this material can offer heat resistance up to 800°C, it is also potentially lethal to humans. But asbestos alternatives exist.
Consequently, the same
industries, and more, which were once dependent on asbestos for fire protection
and fire resistance are now having to find safe asbestos alternatives.
As specialists in fire protection, Elmelin provides specialist alternatives to asbestos, using
products based on mica and microporous technology.
Why Asbestos is Lethal
HSE points out that asbestos kills around 5,000 workers each year in the UK. When materials containing asbestos are disturbed or damaged, they release fibres into the air. If inhaled, these fibres can cause diseases which can be fatal.
The effects are not
immediate, as these diseases take time to develop. However, once they are
diagnosed, it is usually too late to do anything about them.
The diseases that
asbestos can cause are:
–Mesothelioma – a cancer that affects the lining of the lungs and is almost always fatal
–Asbestosis – a scarring condition of the lung, which causes shortness of breath and can be life-threatening
–Asbestos-related lung cancer – the same as lung cancer caused by smoking
–Pleural thickening – the lining of the lung swells and thickens, usually occurring following heavy asbestos exposure.
The problem is that
asbestos is found in a great many places, including industrial, commercial and
residential properties. It has been commonly used as an insulating material, has
also been included in the manufacture of ceiling tiles, textured coatings,
corrugated cement sheets, floor tiles and pipework. Asbestos is also sometimes
present in brake pads, gaskets, electrical wire insulation and furnaces.
Asbestos is versatile,
which has contributed to its widespread use. While its raw fibres are silk-like
in their softness, manufacturing processes can also produce asbestos that is
rock-solid.
Anyone working with
asbestos should take the necessary precaution to protect themselves, but the
best precaution of all is to find a safe asbestos alternative.
Asbestos Alternatives
Various new technologies
have emerged in the wake of the growing awareness of the risks associated with
asbestos. These include: polyurethane foams; flour fillers; thermoset plastic
flour; cellulose fibres; and amorphous silica fabrics.
Asbestos itself had so
much of a universal application that it has proved impossible to find a single
substitute. However, some asbestos alternatives are more versatile than others.
One solution for high
temperature insulation that, like asbestos, is mineral-based and has a wide
variety of uses, is mica. Unlike asbestos, mica is safe.
Mica is a rock-forming
silicate material and used with microporous technology, it provides a broad
range of insulation and fire protection solutions across many different sectors
and industries.
Like asbestos before it,
mica can be used in various densities, from thin but durable sheets to cut shapes for tooling applications and
manufactured components.
High Temperature Insulation
Microporous materials
containing mica are effective in high temperature insulation for different
industries, including foundry and steel, continuous processing and transport.
Here, there is an ongoing
requirement for heat resistant materials for insulation and specialist
functions such as heat shields. Mica and microporous insulation materials offer
all the benefits of asbestos with none of the risks.
Fire safety in industry
cuts across sectors, and requires solutions that are highly functional and
adaptable.
In many instances, people
will come into close contact with high temperature insulation materials as part
of their daily working lives, so providing a safe but technically viable
asbestos alternative is a fundamental requirement for safety in the workplace.
Fire Protection
Traditionally, asbestos
has been widely used in construction as an essential component in ensuring
building have the right degree of fire protection.
This has, in effect, turned
asbestos into a hidden threat, with it being used in so many different
construction materials.
One aspect of fire safety
in buildings is passive fire protection. This involves measures designed to
contain a blaze and stop it from spreading throughout a structure.
Microporous technology
now provides linings for fire doors and lift doors, to help with passive fire
protection measures. These insulation boards are thin but hardwearing, and
offer excellent resistance to fire and heat.
Fire safety is a continual
requirement for a great many industries. These industries can no longer rely on
asbestos as a solution. What they can do, however, is explore the versatility
of mica, mica-based products and microporous technology as contemporary
solutions to fire protection, insulation and fire safety.
Are You Looking for Asbestos Alternatives?
Elmelin specialises in
providing manufactured solutions for
high temperature insulation, thermal control, heat resistance and fire
protection. We provide both off-the-shelf and bespoke solutions, depending on
your needs.
Please call us on +44 20 8520 2248, email sales@elmelin.com, or complete our online enquiry form. We’ll get back to you as soon as possible.