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Today we’ll look at a popular and effective thermal insulation material, known for more than half a century, which is called glass wool. What is this?

Compound

This fibrous insulation is a type of mineral wool. It is made by drawing fibers from silicon with additives from limestone, soda, dolomite, borax, etc. with the addition of a synthetic binder. It differs from other types of mineral wool in that glass wool has a thicker fiber and better elasticity.

Technical characteristics of glass wool

The thermal conductivity of glass wool is 0.039-0.05 W/m*K. The heat insulator in glass wool is the air itself, which fills the cavities formed between the weaves of fibers. It can be operated at temperatures up to 450 degrees.

Insulation properties:

• low thermal conductivity;
• good sound insulation characteristics;
• non-flammability;
• elasticity and compressibility;
• ease and simplicity of installation;
• durability.

Application of glass wool

Modern glass wool is a non-flammable insulation material that is used for thermal insulation of roofs, internal and external walls and partitions, floors and ceilings of residential and technical premises. Provided there is good moisture protection, glass wool can be used to insulate facades. Reviews about this insulation have been consistently good for many decades. It is ideal for insulating garages and basements. In the photos and videos you can see numerous application options. When installing the slabs, it compresses and forms a monolithic thermal insulation coating without cold bridges.

Advantages

One of the main advantages of glass wool over basalt mineral wool is its cost. It is much cheaper due to the more affordable cost of raw materials and cheaper transportation. Glass wool has excellent compressibility and elasticity and is capable of reducing its volume in packaging by 6 times. When unpacked within 20-40 minutes, it restores its volume. The most famous manufacturers of glass wool are Isover, Ursa, Rockwool, etc. Glass wool is produced in slabs, rolls and mats, and can be produced reinforced and with a reflective layer.

Flaws

Disadvantages include excessive water absorption. During installation, a mandatory vapor barrier is required. When saturated with moisture, the insulation deteriorates its thermal insulation properties by up to 40%. In addition, when saturated with water, the fibers irreversibly change their structure to a more fragile one.

Thermal insulation materials are used very often in construction. Each of them has individual technical specifications, among which not the least is the size of these products. It is known that only 5 cm of insulation can successfully replace 20 cm concrete base. Having studied the insulation, the dimensions of which correspond to design features buildings, you can build warm and comfortable housing, erect a roof, foundation and walls.

There are quite a large number of thermal insulation samples. The most popular is basalt insulation; the size of its slabs corresponds to standard standards, and during installation it practically does not deform. Extruded polystyrene foam is an incredibly shrink-resistant raw material that can withstand high blood pressure, does not absorb dust and moisture. Having a thickness of 2-3 mm, it surpasses other samples in terms of quality. Insulation with mineral wool is achieved due to air pores located in the space between the fibers.

Solid base insulation most often has a slab configuration. Their thickness may vary: the minimum value is 20 mm. Standard sizes slabs are equal to 1250x600. Some models have some differences in dimensions: 1000x600x50, 1000x500x30. Flexible versions of such sources are produced in rolls of different lengths; accordingly, the small height of the product indicates its larger volume in such a roll. Therefore, the dimensions can have the following coefficients: 9000x1220x50, 3900x1200x150.

Types of mineral insulation

1. Fiberglass.

Such an insulator has a small mass, has soft covering and is absolutely safe for humans. It is made by melting glass and has elongated, massive fibers. This insulation is produced in the form of rolls and slabs. Even under the influence of unfavorable external factors glass fibers do not change their properties, sizes and configurations.

Plates from this raw material are produced by gluing with synthetic resins. Rigid and semi-rigid bases differ in the following dimensions: 1000X1500X50-70 mm. Fiberglass strips and mats have the form of bags, treated on both sides with glass wool and stitched with cotton threads. Such bases are most often used for pipeline insulation. The dimensions of the mats correspond to the following parameters: length – 1400, width – 500; 900; 1000 and 1500, thickness – 30; 40; 50; 60; 70 and 80 mm.

1. Basalt insulation.

Such insulators are produced by melting basalt and minerals of similar composition. Their external characteristics are similar to fiberglass raw materials. The structure of basalt threads makes it possible to reduce mechanical loads. The use of such samples in practice contributes to high-quality insulation of facades, walls, ceilings, pitched roofs. Basalt insulator prevents moisture from penetrating into the room and does not allow extraneous sounds. Therefore, there is no dampness or mold in the premises.

Taking into account the average performance of thermal insulation material, their dimensions correspond to: 1200x600x100; 1000x600x100; 1200x600x50; 1000x600x50 mm. The difference in such indicators is determined by the differences in the requirements of each manufacturer, whose standards may differ slightly.

1. Mineral wool.

Mineral wool insulators are produced in the following versions: some are in the form of slabs, others are produced in the form of rolls.

Both tiles perform one function, determined by the conditions of installation work. Insulation in the form of rolls is convenient for rooms with large areas.

To ensure convenience during the installation of thermal insulators, dimensions are established for each brand of product. The dimensions of mineral wool slabs are 1000-1200 mm in length and 500-600 mm in width.

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Polymer-based materials

Heat insulators of this type are actively used in damp areas. The disadvantage of insulation from the polymer category is the low degree of fire resistance.

1. Foamed polystyrene foam.

Such insulators contain granules, the size of which corresponds to 2-8 mm, and a flame retardant foaming agent. Insulation boards of this type have virtually no weight: lightweight blocks can be easily cut to the required sizes. During the heating process, the granules increase in volume. A layer of this material 5 cm high laid on the surface will provide high-quality insulation premises, hydro- and sound insulation. Finished polystyrene foam blocks have a length from 800 cm to 6000 cm. The average width is 1200 mm.

1. Extruded polystyrene foam.

This material is produced in the form of slabs, their traditional sizes are: 1250x600. They are very easy to cut and easy to install. Another name for this insulator is penoplex. If you want to achieve high thermal insulation coefficients and absorption of extraneous noise in your home, it is recommended to use thicker material. You can find out these values ​​from the markings presented on each of the packages: 15, 25 and 100.

A remarkable advantage of such plates is self installation these samples. For indoor installation, sheets with a thickness of 15 mm are often used. A higher insulator helps reduce the area of ​​the room. For this reason, its values ​​are determined by the dimensions of the insulated object.

The length and width indicators for such slabs are standard: 60 cm and a length of 120-240 cm.

1. Foamed polyethylene foam.

This is a heat-insulating material from the category of polymers, produced by foaming chemical and gas-forming agents. physical plane. When installing it, there is no need to use a vapor barrier layer. It is produced in the form of rolls, the width of which is 0.5-1.5 meters, thickness - from 2 to 15 mm.

1. Polyurethane foam.

It looks like infusible plastic with a mesh base. Used as insulation for windows, doors, roofs and external walls.

Glass wool is a mineral fibrous material, a type of mineral wool. Along with it is widely used as insulation.

The following raw materials are used to produce glass wool: sedimentary rocks (sand, limestone), carbonate class minerals (dolomite), soda and other mineral rocks.

Features of fiberglass-based insulation

Efficiency

Compared to other types of mineral insulation, glass wool has the same or higher thermal conductivity and sound insulation properties with less weight. Thermal insulation fits tightly to the frame and the insulated surface - without gaps or cracks.

Ease of use

The length of glass wool fibers is 2-4 times longer than that of stone wool, in fact it is 10-30 cm. Thanks to this, glass wool insulation has high elasticity and strength.

Environmental friendliness

The content of synthetic binder used in the production of glass wool required to comply with environmental standards is 1.5 times less than in the production of other mineral insulation.

Vibration resistance

There are practically no non-fibrous inclusions in glass wool insulation. This contributes to high vibration resistance of the insulation.

Areas of application of glass wool

Glass wool is used for sound insulation and insulation:

• Loggias and balconies
• Sauna and baths
• External walls, facades
• Partitions and cladding
• Ceilings, ceilings and floors
• Pitched roofs

In addition to the above, glass wool is also used as industrial insulation for insulation. technological equipment and pipelines hot water. Certain types of insulation are covered with aluminum foil for vapor barrier and reflection of thermal radiation inside or with fiberglass for wind protection.

Characteristic properties

• Thermal conductivity coefficient – ​​0.030-0.052 W/m K
• Temperature resistance – 450 °C
• Fiber thickness – 3-15 microns
• The length of the fibers is 2-4 times longer than that of stone wool

Stages of glass wool production

• Preparing the recipe mixture
• Heating glass melt in a furnace to a temperature of 1400 °C
• Steam blowing of filaments of molten glass flying out of a centrifuge
• Treatment of fibers with polymer aerosols
• Leveling material on rolls
• Polymerization at 250 °C
• Cooling cutting and packaging finished products

The finished insulation has a significant volume. To save space during storage/transportation, glass wool is pressed. Sixfold compression of the finished product is possible. The material is available in the form of slabs or mats.

One of the most popular materials for insulation works The building is made of glass wool. It is worth noting that its use requires a certain amount of care, caution and knowledge. The material itself is very fragile, so it small details can easily cause damage to the human body. It is for this reason that such thermal insulation must be carried out in protective clothing. Today, even the appearance of new insulation materials, the demand for mineral wool is not decreasing. In our article we will look at the features of glass wool, the characteristics and areas of application of the material.

General idea of ​​glass wool

Insulation based on mineral wool is one of the unique construction funds made by melting inorganic glass fibers. In order to fully understand the characteristics of the material, you should first learn how it is produced. Back in 1932, a young scientist, Dale Kleist, invented a strange substance that would later be called mineral slabs or glass wool. This is an innovation in construction industry owned by the city of Illinois. Dale also made attempts to weld the blocks together. As a result, he noted that when the material interacts with a stream of air, it loses the thickness of the fibers.

In modern slab production technology, glass is most often used industrial waste, for example, broken glass fragments, dolomites, sand, limestone rocks and others. The first thing they do is place the raw materials in a special furnace for melting. After this, the semi-liquid substance forms a mixture with fibers and glass threads.

Interesting! The thickness of the fibers is approximately 20 times thinner than the hair on the human head.

After processing, the glass fibers are placed opposite each other, which allows you to create a material with high quality and excellent sound insulation. At the last stage of production, the mixture of glass fibers should be given optimal rigidity and the required color. Today, there are two methods for creating glass fibers:

• Continuous production method. This option is characterized by the production of a single fiber, which is stretched in length. This material is quite thin and long. It is worth noting that the products are very similar in appearance to silk threads.
• Staple production method. This technology is characterized by production by blowing the mass with hot air. Such products are similar in appearance to wool, and have a small length and width.

Attention! Glass fibers are used to create materials such as fiberglass, fiberglass, fiberglass mesh, fiberglass and others. Such products are in high demand in the construction and renovation of buildings.

Main advantages of glass wool

Glass wool insulation has a long list of advantages compared to other types of similar materials. Among them, the following indicators and characteristics should be highlighted:

• Glass wool insulation has excellent thermal insulation properties. Its thermal conductivity varies from 0.030 to 0.052 W per mK - this indicator is almost identical to that of air.
• The slabs have optimal indicator elasticity, which makes it possible not only to store material in a warehouse, but also to transport it over long distances.
• High resistance to vibration;
• The material is environmentally friendly and safe;
• Low flammability;
• The products are resistant to rotting and mold formation;
• Chemically resistant material;
• Not at risk of negative contact with rodents, since the fibers are unsuitable for their nutrition;
• Low cost.

The main disadvantages of glass wool

And even though there is glass wool low price, which attracts a large number of developers, we need to find out how many, and what disadvantages this material has. So, the main disadvantages include the following characteristics and indicators:

• Although the price is low, you should know that the service life will be the same;
• The material is quite brittle, so you should work with it very carefully;
• Some glass wool manufacturers still use formaldehyde as the main material, which can be hazardous to human health.
• When working with glass wool, be sure to follow safety rules, since if its particles get on the skin or mucous membrane, it can cause burns or itching. If the material penetrates the respiratory tract, serious illness may occur.

In order to avoid these numerous problems, you should use the following protective equipment:

• Wear special glasses;
• Use a respirator;
• You must have professional gloves on your hands;
• It is best if you wear overalls.

Attention! After finishing all work with the material, you must definitely throw away the clothes you worked in.

Glass wool production technology

For the manufacture of glass wool, the most ordinary materials, such as sand, limestone, drill, soda, dolomite. That is why the price of the products is low. IN modern technologies Approximately 80 percent cullet is added. All the necessary elements that need to be melted are poured into a special bunker. The temperature in the device must reach 1400 degrees - this is necessary in order for the material to be obtained with all its inherent physical abilities.

The process of fiber formation itself must be accompanied by treatment with polymers and aerosols. All components are usually bound using special polymers, for example, phenolaldehyde or modified urea. After this, the impregnated thread falls on the rollers, where several level leveling takes place. The subsequent process is polymerization, which occurs at a temperature of about 250 degrees. A high degree acts as an excellent catalyst promoting polymer formations. In parallel with this, evaporation occurs excess moisture. After completing this procedure, the material is painted in yellow amber hue and obtains an optimal hardness indicator.

Attention! After this, the material should be cooled. In this case, it is necessary to bring the temperature of the glass wool to the optimal room environment. The next step is cutting out the products.

Properties of glass wool

Today, glass wool is highly popular not only due to the fact that its price is lower than other materials, but also due to its excellent quality. The substance can insulate any type of building. Why are products in high demand, let's try to figure it out.

Glass wool is a type of mineral wool, which is characterized by a fibrous structure and is used for thermal insulation of buildings. It is worth noting that they create material based on the same elements as ordinary glass. One of the features of glass wool is a high percentage of chemical resistance.

Attention! When the material is in a loose state, its density is below 130 kg per cubic meter. m.

An insulated house with glass wool will differ from the same insulation, only with mineral wool. The fiber of the material in most cases does not exceed a thickness of 15 microns, but their length is greater than that of other similar elements. It is this property that allows a manufactured object made of glass wool to stand much longer, as it turns out high level elasticity and strength.

Application of glass wool

Attractive price and high quality attracts the attention of a large number of developers and specialists to glass wool. Universal characteristics make it possible to safely use the material in various industries human activity. These qualities include the following indicators:

• Practicality of glass wool;
• Not subject to rotting and fire processes;
• Glass wool does not absorb liquid;
• Excellent density and thermal resistance;

Today, fiberglass can be seen in a wide variety of human fields, for example, construction, electrical industry, shipbuilding, and others. In most cases, it is produced in the form of rolls or rigid slabs. This form allows you to installation work with ease. IN construction industry it is used for insulation and sound insulation.

Fiberglass is typically manufactured in rolls, rigid slabs, or mats. This is a very easy-to-install material that can be easily cut, bent, and given the desired shape. By the way, in modern technologies vans and boats are made from fiberglass. Using a special gel, you can make the surface of the material smooth and shiny. So we got acquainted with glass wool. It is very easy to use, but the main thing is to adhere to all safety rules.

Glass wool is a fibrous insulation material, belonging to the class of mineral wool. It is considered one of the popular heat insulators.

In this article we will look at the properties, production and use of glass wool.

Glass wool production technology and its characteristics

Fiberglass is made from waste from the glass industry and natural sand. As a result, the material consists of the finest fibers interconnected by a substance.

Thermal insulation products based on glass wool - these are mats or rolls:

Thanks to the material being pressed several times, it takes up a small volume. When unfolded, they are more or less rigid slabs.

Features of working with glass wool

It should be remembered that when working with glass wool, it turns into fine dust, which causes irritation to the skin, mucous membranes, or enters the lungs, from where it is never removed. Therefore, it is necessary to take care of personal protective equipment - gloves, goggles, respirator.

To increase strength, fiberglass materials are reinforced by stitching:

Another disadvantage (besides fragility) is thermal conductivity, which is greater than, for example, polyurethane foam or penoizol. That is, glass wool, as insulation, is worse than the named materials. But it's cheaper.

Advantages of glass wool

• High noise insulation (sellers say so, but I didn’t notice this in my frame extension, although there are four layers of glass wool - 20 cm);
• low density and light weight;
• high strength (again, according to the sellers, who probably just have tongues without bones and heads without brains - what kind of strength does glass wool have if it delaminates in your hands?);
• ease of installation;
• elasticity and flexibility;
• low cost;
• takes up a small volume when packaged;
• ease of transportation;
• not susceptible to mold and rodent attacks;
• modern cotton wool is relatively safe (the key word here is “relatively”).

I would like to add a comment.

The expression regarding the safety of using glass wool does not inspire confidence at all.

We should once again remind you about safety precautions:

In case of contact with skin, try to wash off with water without scratching the skin; otherwise the fibers will go deep under the skin.

If fibers get on the mucous membrane, consult a doctor immediately! (I mean, that’s what doctors advise, but in reality, it depends on what kind of mucous membranes you have: you yourself will wash your eyes with a large amount running water, you don’t need a doctor for this; and no doctor can remove fiberglass dust from the respiratory tract, so why? Behind the wallet...).

1). The use of thick work clothes is mandatory.

2). During installation, the layer of wool should be covered with another material to prevent dust from penetrating into the room where there are people.

3). If the insulation is indoors, then it is good to vacuum the room after work.

The main disadvantages of glass wool

Actually, they have been discussed above exhaustively; we will not pound the waters.

My review of Knauf glass wool

I would like to leave a review in this article dedicated to such material as Knauf fiberglass.

Packaged in rolls:

Or mats:

I used cotton wool produced by mats. It's called "ThermoPlate 037" and is a light series glass wool.

Specifications:

Mat dimensions 5 x 60 x 125 cm,

Thermal conductivity coefficient is 0.037.

There are 24 mats in the package, the total area of ​​the mats in the package is 18 m2 (you need to buy with a reserve if you want to insulate in two or three layers. With what margin? It is believed that 5...10% is spent on trimming any material, of these numbers and estimate).

Manufacturer of the material: KNAUF Insulation LLC, Stupino, Moscow region.

Insulation was for the walls frame extension to the house. I placed glass wool between vertical posts and ceiling beams:

My review of the material in action:

1. It is excellent for cutting sheets; it can be cut with both a sharp knife and scissors (large, tailor's scissors, not manicure scissors :)).
2. I confirm that rodents will definitely not settle in the glass wool (the packaging was in a room accessible to gray animals, but they did not settle into the insulation itself).
3. The density of this type of Knauf is low, so the material is not fully suitable for thermal insulation of vertical structures. Unfortunately, the density is not indicated on the packaging. It is better to inquire about the density of glass wool in advance on the Internet or other sources, so as not to get a “pig in a poke” (this is not the kind of cat that will drive away mice :)).
4. Despite the manufacturer's assurances that cotton wool is formaldehyde-free and does not have a pungent odor, in reality there is an odor. Therefore, it is better to work with a respirator, and interior walls, again, make it airtight.

I note that using rolled Knauf is much more convenient for horizontal floors. Firstly, the convenience of rolling on the surface. Secondly, with multi-layer insulation, the layers will be without joints, and, therefore, without cold entering the room insulated with such material.

The overall assessment of the material is quite good, and in the absence best alternative, would use it in the future. But there is an alternative, which I’ll tell you about someday...

Application of glass wool

Due to its efficiency and versatility, this thermal insulation material has a wide range of applications in construction. Glass wool is more suitable for insulating attic and interfloor, that is, horizontal floors. Of course, it is also possible to insulate vertical structures (see photo above; the fact is that cotton wool does not crawl on unplaned boards, you just need to make the distance between the boards 1.5...2 cm less than the width of the insulation).

Which insulation is better: glass wool or mineral wool?

If I had to choose between glass wool and mineral wool, I would still choose our building material- glass wool. One of the most important advantages that especially attracted me was that there were no mice or other living creatures in it.

More. With the same thickness of glass wool it is 10…15% warmer basalt wool and cheaper. Glass wool has longer fibers than basalt wool, so in the manufacture of glass wool it is used less glue, which means less formaldehyde.

Mineral wool should be used only where it is possible to put a reliable layer against the penetration of formaldehyde into the living space. In general, it must be used wisely to insulate facades, because health (lack of it) is an even more expensive thing than building a house.

I made my choice, I hope that my review will be useful to you, and you will also make your right choice.

glass wool technical characteristics