Mineral or basalt wool which is better. Stone wool: main characteristics and applications. Types of mineral wool and their difference

Mineral basalt wool is one of the most high-quality and effective heaters. Why? I will talk about all the properties of this material and conduct experiments so that you can answer this question yourself.

Stone wool - what is it?

Basalt wool (stone wool) is a kind of mineral wool, a fibrous heat-insulating material intended for warming building structures, pipelines, thermal insulation of chimneys.

Thermal insulation materials of this group have similar properties and characteristics. But there are also differences that play an important role and affect the quality of home insulation.

The question of which is better, basalt insulation or mineral wool, loses its meaning, since basalt wool itself belongs to mineral heaters. In addition, glass wool and slag wool also belong to mineral wool.

Today, stone wool is used quite widely. The material is produced by a mass of manufacturers, among which there are many domestic firms. Some of them produce good quality goods.

Plates for warming facades, foundations and roofs are especially popular, although mats are also popular for warming floors and.

This type of mineral wool is distinguished by excellent indicators of efficiency, durability, resistance to various destructive factors. It is easy to work with, it is completely safe and free from many of the disadvantages of other types of mineral wool. In addition, it is an excellent tool for soundproofing.

Scope of application

Mineral wool based on basalt fibers is widely used. This is a universal heater.

The main areas of its application:

1. Insulation of enclosing structures: walls, floors, ceilings, ceilings, roofs, foundations;
2. Insulation of pipelines;
3. Sound insulation of walls and partitions;
4. Thermal insulation and pipes with hot liquids and gases;
5. Fire protection of load-bearing structures made of steel, cable channels, pipe penetrations, reinforced concrete ceilings, air ducts.

Types of fibers

There are two types of basalt fibers: thin (HTW) and ultra-thin (BSTF). The latter are about 10 times thinner than the former, and products made from them have better characteristics.

Due to the high cost of BSTV products, it is advisable to use them at temperatures above 180 °C, since the superfine fiber demonstrates much greater heat resistance: its limit is 900 °C.

Technical properties

Basalt wool is the best fibrous insulation for today. To prove this, let's look at the numbers. So, the technical characteristics of basalt wool:

An analysis of the technical characteristics makes us understand that basalt wool is an effective and high-quality insulation, which is distinguished by a wide range of applications and a low thermal conductivity.

Application effect

To demonstrate the effect of the use of stone wool, we will use a special device - a thermal imager. It records the intensity of thermal radiation. The closer the image color is to yellow and orange, the higher the temperature.

Now we point our device at the facade of the house, which is not yet insulated with stone wool. Here is what is displayed on the device screen:

Now you need to wait until the building is insulated. For the purity of the experiment, it is necessary to measure heat losses on the same house, so you will have to wait for the end of work on the insulation of the facade. So, we point the device and see:

Main characteristics

Property 1. Water absorption

To move away from the dry and not understandable language of numbers, I will conduct a visual demonstration of the hydrophobicity of basalt wool:

Unlike other fibrous insulation, stone wool practically does not absorb or accumulate moisture. This is a significant advantage.

Property 2. Vapor permeability

Again I will show you a visual demonstration of the properties of stone wool. This time we check the vapor permeability of the material:

Image	Procedure
	Cooking water vapor. We put a metal container with water on the fire and bring it to a boil.
	We put a sample. We take a piece of the stove 25x25 cm and cover it with our bowl of boiling water.
	Watching the effect. After a short time, you can observe how steam freely penetrates through the thermal insulation, despite its thickness.

Property 3. Strength

The compressive strength at 10% deformation ranges from 8 to 60 kPa. On average, this value is 40 kPa. But what does that mean? For clarity, I will show a photo of what will happen to the material after a pressure of 100 kPa.

As you can see, there are no ruts or other marks left on the surface of the plates. The material returns to its original shape almost instantly.

As you can see, even cotton wool is able to withstand severe mechanical stress.

Now let's check the peel strength of the layers. This indicator determines whether plaster or tile can be applied to the surface of the material.

We glue plates with special hooks for cargo on top and bottom. After the glue hardens, we hang the load and bring the force to 80 kPa:

We are trying to increase the effort. We immediately get the result:

Property 4. Refractory qualities

Stone wool has good temperature resistance, especially if we have BSTV in front of us. Again, we will conduct a small experiment: we will direct the autogen to the surface of the plate and heat it above 700 degrees.

We see that cotton wool not only does not ignite, it does not react at all to the effects of fire. Moreover, on the other side of the stove, you can touch it with your palm, and the surface temperature will not exceed 20 degrees. This once again demonstrates the high thermal insulation qualities of the material.

Rock wool or glass wool?

Despite the rather similar technical characteristics, basalt insulation has a number of significant differences from glass wool. These differences will help us understand which is better - glass wool or stone wool.

To begin with, let's take a slab of basalt insulation around the corner and try to shake it.

Now let's do the same with glass wool. The result is drastically different.

Now fold the sheet of basalt wool in half.

We perform the same manipulations with glass wool. The result is again strikingly different from the previous experience.

Remember how we walked on stone wool slabs? Let's walk through the glass wool slabs. The result is different again.

In addition to this visual demonstration, we can recall the well-known feature of fiberglass insulation:

• This material causes severe itching on contact with the skin;
• In case of contact with eyes, seek medical attention;
• If you inhale glass wool dust, you can get bronchitis or asthma, and in some cases, lung cancer.

If we take slag or mineral wool based on basalt with impurities of dolomite and limestone, we will see that basalt insulation is superior to all these types in almost all respects.

The difference between fiber-based insulation can be quite significant. One turns out to be a safe and durable remedy, demonstrating unexpected properties, the other - a source of disease and simply poor-quality material.

Pros and cons of basalt wool

The strengths and weaknesses of basalt insulation are presented in the table:

Let's check the soundproofing:

Conclusion

I examined the features of stone fiber insulation and showed which is better - basalt wool or mineral wool. You learned about all the characteristics and properties of the material, saw visual demonstrations of these properties. If you want to know more, watch the video in this article and ask questions in the comments.

You can save up to 80% of home heating costs by installing the “right” double-glazed windows and insulating the main structural surfaces: foundation, walls, roofing and ceilings. For each type of surface, materials are selected that will protect the house from heat loss and will not require repair or replacement in a few years. Among the most popular heaters is mineral wool.

The composition of mineral wool: what is the insulation made of

Mineral wool is a material consisting of fibers obtained by melting raw materials and stabilized with binders. As the main material used:

• Glass, dolomite, sand.

• Metallurgy waste: slag from blast furnaces.

• Rocks: gabbro-basalt, marls.

Production technology: stages

Production takes place in 3 stages. At the first stage, the source material is poured into special melting furnaces in strict accordance with the recipe. Raw materials are heated to ultra-high temperatures - a maximum of 1.5 thousand degrees. During melting, the material turns into a liquid fluid mass.

The second stage is the formation of fibers. The main method in the production of glass wool is blown. Air streams from an industrial centrifuge are directed into the mass. Under the influence of air, filamentous fibers are formed. Technologically, it is possible to form threads of different thicknesses, lengths and directions. In the direction of the fibers form:

• The structure of horizontal layers.

• Vertically layered fabric.

• Material with randomly directed fibers.

At the third stage, the fibers are treated with binders based on polymeric phenol-aldehyde compounds. The amount of polymer in the composition of mineral wool is strictly regulated, because. resin fumes are harmful to humans. Modern materials are treated with highly stable compounds that are absolutely inert, do not evaporate into the air from the finished material.

Then proceed to cutting the canvases. Slabs, rolls of glass wool or mineral wool are formed.

Characteristics and properties of the material

The main question facing the owner of the house is how to choose the right mineral wool? On the market - a variety of material from different raw materials, with fundamental differences in performance, technical properties and applications.

Types of mineral wool: which wool is better

Under the general name "mineral wool" 3 types of mineral wool are produced from different types of raw materials:

• Slag.

• Stone (basalt) wool.

Glass wool: yellow material in rolls

Fiberglass material in residential premises is practically not used. The main problem is the fragility of the fibers. Small particles of glass cause irritation, getting on open areas of the skin, can provoke inflammation of the mucous membranes, lungs. Mostly inexpensive glass wool is used as a heater for technical rooms, pipelines.

Wool with a fiberglass base has a high hygroscopicity, and the lowest density among all types of mineral wool. Mineral glass wool is not moisture resistant. Is issued in rolls. Also, the material does not have a sufficient level of heat resistance, when heated to 300 degrees, the fibers begin to melt, and the fabric loses its insulating properties.

Stone wool: cut

Mineral stone wool is a canvas with the lowest thermal conductivity, practically does not absorb moisture, but perfectly transmits steam, thanks to its cellular structure. The composition contains a minimum of binders. In addition to high heat resistance, cotton wool is produced in the form of cloths with varying degrees of rigidity, which makes it possible to use it as a heater and sound absorber on different surfaces.

Blade material: cheap insulation

The cheapest insulation is slag wool. Fibers produced from blast furnace waste do not have sufficient density or heat resistance. The material sinters when overheated. Not suitable for laying in places adjacent to heat sources. It is practically not used in domestic construction.

The answer to the question: which is better, glass wool, slag or basalt wool is unequivocal. The most reliable and safe, environmentally friendly material is stone mineral wool.

The main characteristics of the insulation

The characteristics of mineral wool, which must be studied before buying a material, are thermal conductivity, density and vapor permeability, heat resistance.

• The vapor permeability of the canvas is the ability of a material to conduct condensate and steam through its own internal structure without accumulating it inside. The value of the indicator is especially important to consider when selecting a product for warming breathable surfaces, for example, walls made of natural wood. The best indicator is for a material based on basalt rocks (stone wool). Steam conductivity is up to 0.35 mg/sq.m. x h x Pa.

• The density of mineral wool is measured in kilograms per cubic meter (kg per m 3). Stone wool is produced with a density index from 20 to 220 kg / m3. Based on the value, the stiffness of the material is also determined. Plates with a high rate of 200 kg / cubic meter are able to withstand a load of approximately 700 kg per square meter. The lower the index, the softer and more ductile the material. Wool with low density is easily mounted on the surface of a complex geometric shape with irregularities.

The lower the density, the softer the material and the better the flexibility.

• The main criterion by which the insulating ability of the canvases is determined is thermal conductivity. This is the amount of heat that is conducted by a unit of material density in watts at a standard temperature difference. According to the standards, an indicator of up to 0.45 W / m x K is considered sufficient. Modern basalt heaters meet European standards with a thermal conductivity level of 0.03 - 0.04 0.45 W / m x K.

The flammability index is another argument in favor of choosing mineral wool. The material is considered absolutely non-combustible, in addition, when exposed to temperature, it does not emit caustic substances and smoke during combustion. Basalt wool can withstand heating without loss of performance up to 700 ° C. The combustion temperature of wool exceeds 1000 ° C.

Applications of the material

The properties and characteristics of stone-based mineral wool allow the use of insulation without restrictions. In private construction, the material is used for warming the outer and inner surfaces of walls, in the insulating layer of a roofing sandwich, and for thermal insulation of floors.

The use of basalt wool slabs

Other applications:

• The sound absorption properties of semi-rigid rolled products make it possible to use mineral wool for soundproofing rooms.

• Insulation of structures with an increased risk of fire: wooden houses, rooms where boilers, stoves, fireplaces are installed and direct insulation of chimneys and the perimeter of heat sources.

• Protection of pipelines, underground communications.

Release forms

Basalt wool is produced in the form of rigid slabs, semi-rigid mats, in rolls. For professional use, a granular material is produced for application to an insulated surface by spraying.

The highest density of insulation is in wool in slabs. Standard sheet sizes are 50 x 100 cm. The material is easily cut and cut with a hacksaw. The thickness of the sheet can be from 5 to 20 cm. The boards are packed in standard blocks indicating the number of sheets or the square of the surface to be coated in one package. Plates are considered wall and are suitable for installation outside the house, due to their high strength and thermal insulation properties.

Flexible mats in sandwich construction

The material, which is produced in the form of rolled mats, has a lower density. The mats are suitable for laying in multilayer wall structures indoors, they are used as soundproofing wool for installation under a fine floor covering, on interior partitions.

In addition to single-layer canvases, manufacturers offer sheets with several types of coatings. A vapor barrier and waterproofing film is glued on top of the fiber layer to protect the material from getting wet and improve vapor permeability. To improve the thermal insulation properties, the panels are covered with a layer of reflective foil, which reflects heat radiation into the room.

Manufacturers: who to entrust the insulation of the house

Traditionally, European manufacturers are considered leaders in the production of mineral wool (or stone) wool. The release is made in accordance with the internal standards of the countries where the production is located, and the requirements of European standards are much more stringent than domestic ones. Naturally, imported products are more expensive.

An alternative to imported insulation is domestic analogues, which are produced on new equipment, according to standards that are not inferior to European ones.

Characteristics of basalt insulation materials from market leaders:

The choice of material for soundproofing and insulation

For installation on different types of surfaces, a heater is selected, depending on the required characteristics and density. The difference in insulation for walls, roofs, floors is not only in rigidity, but also in price.

Roofing mineral wool: application features

Several types of basalt insulation are used in roof insulation systems:

• Plates - when arranging finished roofs, for laying in rafter niches.

• Rolled - for mounting a roofing sandwich under a rigid sheathing.

• With a heat-reflecting layer to protect against attic heat loss.

The density of the insulation for the roof should not be maximum. There is no load on the surface of the material. Therefore, they are more guided by indicators of vapor permeability and moisture resistance: warm, moist air should not remain inside the insulation. The thermal conductivity of wool decreases with increasing humidity.

For the arrangement of roofing "pies", multilayer systems of vapor-permeable films, mineral wool for the roof, and a waterproofing layer that protects the insulation from moisture from the outside are used.

Attic insulation boards are laid directly above the waterproofing film between the rafters. Fasten with a crate.

Wall insulation: how to choose the right material for exterior and interior work

Rigid slabs are used for outdoor work. The density of insulation for external walls should be maximum. A decorative cladding is laid on top of the insulation layer or a light or heavy plaster layer is applied.

For outdoor use, choose a vapor-permeable material with a minimum moisture absorption rate. For interior work, not only plates are used, but also mats. It is expedient to lay mats (rolled materials) when creating multilayer wall structures with a rigid facing layer.

The parameters of mineral wool for walls are also selected taking into account the material from which the insulated surface is made. Too dense material is not suitable for protecting wooden walls - such a surface must necessarily “breathe”.

The thinner the wall and the higher its thermal conductivity, the thicker the insulation layer should be.

Comparison of mineral wool and alternative insulation

When choosing a material for insulating home systems, doubts often arise: which of the heaters, polystyrene foam or mineral wool, is more reliable? Each of the materials has its own advantages and limitations in application.

How to choose the right insulation

Comparison of characteristics and performance properties of mineral wool and expanded polystyrene

Basalt insulation is classified as fireproof. Expanded polystyrene is not recommended to be mounted in areas close to sources of fire: the material burns and emits toxic components during combustion.

When assessing water absorption, polystyrene wins. Expanded polystyrene is completely moisture resistant - the material does not absorb moisture. The disadvantage of the material associated with moisture resistance is the lack of vapor permeability: walls sheathed with foam plastic will not breathe.

The thermal conductivity of materials is almost the same. The strength of expanded polystyrene is lower, the weight is less. The material weakly resists mechanical damage; when laid without a top layer, it begins to crumble after a few years. Sheets can only be laid on a perfectly flat surface. It is impossible to carry out installation with the absence of cold bridges.

Differences in mounting technique

Mineral wool requires protection from getting wet. Not recommended for use in dug-in foundation insulation systems.

Limitations and scope of materials

From a comparison of the properties of expanded polystyrene and mineral wool, it is possible to determine without error the types of surfaces for which one or another insulation is suitable.
Mineral wool should be preferred:

• For roof insulation.

• In installation on internal walls from a tree.

• As insulation baths, log cabins.

It is better to insulate a wooden house with cotton

• For warming and thermal insulation of pipelines, communications.

• In the insulation of stoves, fireplaces, boilers.

Expanded polystyrene is used:

• For laying around the foundation in the ground.

In wet soil, it is worth using moisture-resistant polystyrene foam

• As an insulating layer of floors with subsequent pouring of the screed.

• In thermal insulation of wet rooms: bathrooms, kitchens.

• In thermal protection of external walls, under decorative plaster.

It is not difficult to determine the type of material. In order not to make a mistake with the modification, the thickness of the insulation, it is advisable to get expert advice. The calculations take into account the characteristics of the surfaces, too thin a layer may not be enough to protect against heat loss. It is also worth listening to the advice of the masters when installing roofing sandwiches: by choosing a multilayer mineral wool with a vapor barrier and a reflective layer, you can save on the amount of other materials.

Video: the whole truth about mineral wool

Mineral wool is a heat-insulating material with a fibrous structure. Produced by melting raw materials such as glass or rocks. Mineral wool includes such heaters as glass wool, basalt and slag wool. Each of these thermal insulations has its advantages and disadvantages.

But in order for any structure to be thermally insulated with high quality, you need to know which is better - basalt wool, mineral wool or glass wool is suitable for it.

Mineral wool

Mineral wool is used not only as a heater, but also as a fire retardant material. So, for example, basalt wool is used in places with high temperatures, where other thermal insulation, like expanded polystyrene, cannot be installed.

Advantages

The positive qualities possessed by heaters based on mineral wool:

• Long service life;
• Large selection of materials, both in density and thickness;
• fire resistance;
• They are not food for rodents;
• Vapor permeable;
• Do not support the growth of mold and fungi;
• Good sound insulation;
• Low coefficient of thermal conductivity;
• Easy installation.

disadvantages

Although mineral wool is not of interest to rodents as food, they can live in it. Also, mineral wool must be covered from the wind, otherwise the fibers and heat will be blown out. Therefore, when insulating walls with it, it is imperative to put a windproof layer.

Mineral wool has a low coefficient of thermal conductivity due to the air between the fibers. But if you press it down, the fibers are compressed, there will be much less air in them. As a result, the thermal conductivity will increase and it will become easier for cold air flows to enter the room, and on the contrary, it will be warm to leave. Therefore, mineral wool heaters are installed freely, but at the same time tightly so that there are no gaps.

When working with mineral wool, it is necessary to wear personal protective equipment, as it is dusty. If glass wool dust enters the respiratory system, skin or eyes become irritated.

Mineral wool must be protected from moisture, especially based on basalt. If the insulation gets wet, then it will have to be thrown away, since even after drying, the thermal insulation properties will not return to it.

Fiberglass insulation is made from cullet, as well as sand, dolomite, soda. Compared to basalt wool, glass wool has fibers 2 or even 4 times longer, making it stronger and more resilient. Therefore, after pressing down, this thermal insulation restores its porosity, even with a minimum material density of 11 kg/m 3 .

The maximum operating temperature of glass wool is +450°C, the minimum is -60°C. In terms of thermal characteristics, basalt and glass wool insulation are the same. The maximum density of glass wool is 130 kg/m3.

Advantages

Glass wool insulation has the following positive qualities:

• Resistant to chemicals, do not cause metal corrosion;
• Do not shrink;
• Frost-resistant;
• They have low weight and low hygroscopicity;
• Absorb sound well.

disadvantages

At temperatures above the maximum, glass wool loses its elasticity and shape, which is why it is not recommended to use it in places with elevated temperatures, such as near chimneys. When exposed to constant fire, it burns out.

Note! To work with this heater, it is necessary to use personal protective equipment. When glass dust particles come into contact with the skin, eyes and respiratory system, they cause irritation.

Basalt thermal insulation is made from gabbro-basalt ore. The maximum temperature that basalt insulation can withstand is +1200°C. There are a large number of sizes, densities and shapes of this insulation.

Advantages

Since basalt wool is made from stone, it is non-combustible. Due to this and the high maximum operating temperature, it is used in places where it is necessary to protect the structure from the effects of high temperatures. For example, basalt is great for insulating places where a chimney passes through an attic floor.

Note! Although basalt is non-combustible, it does not provide complete fire safety, so it is recommended to use additional fire protection measures with it.

Basalt insulation does not shrink, and also has excellent vapor permeability. Therefore, it is recommended to use it for wooden structures. In addition, basalt insulation does not absorb water from the air and is not eaten by rodents.

disadvantages

Basalt insulation cannot be considered environmentally friendly, although it is made from natural components. To improve consumer qualities, chemical additives are added to it, which at high temperatures can release harmful volatile substances.

Basalt is not of interest to rodents as food, but they can live in it. As a result, it is necessary to install additional protection against their penetration inside.

Basalt wool does not absorb moisture from the air, but when water hits the surface, it quickly draws it in. Therefore, it cannot be used to insulate foundations, basements and blind areas. Also, basalt cannot be considered a good sound insulator, since it only retains airborne noise, and skips shock.

For heaters with low density, wind protection is required, as they are blown through. It can also be blown through at the joints, so the plates must be laid with a run. If it is necessary to lay thermal insulation with a layer of 100 mm, then it is better to do this in 2 layers of 50 mm each.

Basalt insulation does not fit snugly in places where it cannot be placed at an angle of 90 °. Therefore, it is not considered the best option for domed or similar frame structures. When working with basalt wool, you also need to use protective equipment, as it emits dust.

Dependence on the density of the material and the place of insulation

A material with a certain density has a specific purpose. So basalt insulation with a density of 25-30 kg / m 3 is intended for thermal insulation of floors. He should not experience any burden. 35 kg/m 3 is applied for roof, 45 kg/m 3 can be installed vertically. Materials with a density of 50-60 kg/m 3 are used in layered laying, and 70-80 kg/m 3 are mounted in ventilated facades.

For plaster facades, it is necessary to purchase plates with a density of 140-150 kg / m 3, and for flat roofs with a load - 160-180 kg / m 3.

When choosing a material, it should be taken into account that the denser the insulation, the higher its price, because more raw materials were used for production. But at the same time they have the same thermal characteristics.