1-800-526-0839
serving North Carolina and Virginia
copyright 2003-2004 Brabble Insulation Inc., all rights reserved.
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1-800-526-0839 serving North Carolina and Virginia copyright 2003-2004 Brabble Insulation Inc., all rights reserved. |
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What is mineral wool insulation?
The term "mineral wool" actually encompasses fiber glass and two additional materials - rock wool and slag wool - that use different raw materials in their manufacture. Rock wool is made from natural minerals like basalt or diabase. Slag wool is made primarily from iron ore blast furnace slag. Rock and slag wool fall within a group of materials historically referred to as man-made mineral fibers; however, a more appropriate name is man-made vitreous fibers (MMVFs), reflecting the glassy, non-crystalline nature of these materials. More recently, scientists have also used the term "synthetic vitreous fibers" to describe these materials. Rock and slag wool insulations are produced by a centrifugal wheel process. Natural rocks or iron ore blast furnace slag are melted, and the hot, viscous material is spun into fiber by pouring a stream of molten material onto one of several rapidly spinning wheels. As droplets of the molten material are thrown from the wheel(s), fibers are generated. As the material fiberizes, its surface generally is coated with a binder and/or de-dusting agent (e.g. mineral oil). The fiber is then collected and formed into batts or blankets for use as insulation, or baled for use in other products, such as acoustical ceiling tile and spray-applied fireproofing, insulating, and acoustical materials. The mineral wool form of MMVFs was initially developed in the mid-1800s by melting slag and spinning it into insulation for use in homes and industry. Over the past century, mineral wool manufacturing has evolved into a large and diversified industry as more and more products containing these useful materials have been developed. Products made from rock and slag wool are extremely useful. They are non-combustible and will not support the growth of mildew, mold or bacteria when tested in accordance with the specifications of the American Society for Testing and Materials (ASTM C665). Rock and slag wool fibers are dimensionally stable and have high tensile strength. In addition to providing insulation, rock and slag wools absorb sound, and with a vapor retarder, help control condensation, which can result in mold.
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