The Advantages of FOAMGLAS® Insulation
FOAMGLAS
® Insulation exhibits a wide range of performance characteristics which results in unmatched performance and versatility. When you choose FOAMGLAS
® Insulation, you will be relying on a product that boasts all of the following list of properties. You get all this protection from just one product that was engineered to be the final solution for your insulation needs in any environment.
Liquid water resistance
Moisture absorption in thermal insulation is the mortal enemy of all insulated systems. Water is the worst enemy of thermal insulation systems because it increases heat loss, deteriorates insulation, can corrode carbon steel and can cause chloride stress corrosion cracking of austenitic stainless steel.
Constant insulating efficiency
The task of thermal insulation is to provide reliable and long-term thermal resistance despite potential harsh environmental and service conditions. Reliable and long-term insulation efficiency is a prerequisite to safe and economical plant operation. But, long-term insulation efficiency doesn't just happen. It must be built into the facility through the use of proper materials and systems. If the goal of long-term efficiency is compromised, severe technical and economical problems will result.
Zero water vapor permeability
Practically all materials, with the exception of metals and glass, allow penetration of water vapor. The consequences of water vapor intrusion and condensation are many — degraded thermal performance being the most important, as well as the increased corrosion hazard present in many applications.
Corrosion resistance
Corrosion costs in the U.S. alone currently exceed $300 billion a year. What might not be fully appreciated is that approximately one-third of these losses can be avoided by the correct use of existing products and technology. Serious corrosion is generally associated with an absorptive insulation. Corrosion is most severe in the temperature range where liquid water can be present. It is not as much of a concern in cold or hot applications where water would freeze or turn to a gaseous state.
Fire and smoke protection
Fire is a serious problem for building and industrial applications. Every year, it causes several thousand deaths, and damages are evaluated at several billion dollars in the U.S. and at a similar level in Europe. Just because an insulation material is noncombustible, it doesn't mean that it's safe. The ability of an insulation to “wick” flammable liquids presents a much bigger problem, as does its production of smoke and toxic gases if burned.
Long-term dimensional stability
The dimensional stability of an insulation material is a property that is absolutely necessary for the faultless function of an insulation system. The term implies not only the reversible linear coefficient of expansion, which depends on the temperature, but also irreversible changes of dimensions which can be caused by influences of temperature, water or humidity and also by too-high loads.
High compressive strength
High compressive strength is needed to support loads. When considering insulation materials, compressive strength is not typically a distinguishing parameter. This may be a result of the fact that many insulation materials, fibrous materials especially, generally have very limited compressive strength values. Lack of adequate compressive strength can cause damage to mechanical systems and equipment, and also cause deterioration of the insulation system itself.
Vermin resistance
The resistance of insulation materials against rodents and vermin is a property which is not very often considered when buildings and/or industrial installations are planned. Next to fire and acts of God, rodents cause the greatest destruction to commercial, industrial and institutional buildings, according to a U.S. study. In agricultural buildings, the problems are even more severe.
CFC and HCFC free
FOAMGLAS
® Insulation is completely free of chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs) and hydrochlorofluorocarbons (HCFCs ). Both can be released as byproducts during the manufacturing of plastic foams which are used as insulation materials.
CFCs cause damage to both the lower and upper (6 to 30 miles out) atmospheres. Damage in the upper atmosphere-sometimes referred to as the stratosphere) is particularly alarming because it depletes ozone.
HCFCs were seen to be a replacement agent for CFCs. However, they can be equally as bad or even worse than CFCs in terms of their greenhouse or warming effect on the world's climate.
Because FOAMGLAS
® Insulation is made of glass, it is completely benign as far as the environment is concerned. It consists exclusively of minute, sealed glass cells which are formed through chemically reacting finely-ground oxidized glass with carbon at a high temperature. No additional foaming agents, CFCs, HCFCs, organic binders or other potentially harmful substances are used that might contribute to atmospheric pollution.
