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Thermal insulation
Heat insulating fibre-reinforced composites
Heat-insulating fibre-reinforced composites for demanding industrial and commercial applications
High thermal insulation combined with high mechanical stability, chemical resistance and temperature resistance
Heat-insulating materials
Heat insulating materials are used in many applications for both functional and economic reasons. They prevent thermal bridges, save energy and contribute to a constant process or ambient temperature, for example, depending on the application.
Selection often restricted
In many industrial and commercial applications, materials must not only provide high thermal insulation but they must also satisfy other stringent requirements and withstand loads – for example, high mechanical forces, contact with chemical media or high operating and process temperatures. This often restricts the choice of suitable materials for thermal insulation.
Thermal insulation + other properties
Our brand materials Glastherm® and Durostone®are specially developed for these conditions. As fibre-reinforced plastics, they combine high thermal insulation with other properties such as high mechanical stability, resistance to certain chemical media and temperature resistance. This makes thermal insulation possible in demanding industrial and commercial applications.
Glastherm® and Durostone®
High thermal insulation
As fibre-reinforced plastics, Durostone® and Glastherm® have a very low coefficient of thermal conductivity of 0.18–0.3 W/mK compared to that of conventional construction materials such as steel (15–58 W/mK). Thus, the thermal properties of materials are comparable to mineral wool, which is used as an insulation material in construction.
Avoid thermal bridges and cold bridges
With their high thermal insulation, Glastherm® and Durostone® contribute specifically to the avoidance of thermal bridges and cold bridges in your application. Depending on the area, they support a uniform process, the application or ambient temperature, and prevent energy losses.
Thermal conductivity is often not the only criterion
However, thermal conductivity is often not the only criterion in many industrial and commercial applications when selecting suitable materials for thermal insulation. In addition to thermal insulation, other properties are often required for construction design reasons. Depending on the application, the performance and service life of the components are influenced by other factors, such as:
- Mechanical load
- Operating temperature
- Contact with chemical media
- Flame resistance
- Type of construction
- Ambient conditions, such as humidity
Areas of application for Glastherm® and Durostone®
Durostone® and Glastherm® are especially suitable for demanding applications. Depending on the material type, they combine high thermal insulation with other properties, such as:
- High mechanical stability
- Suitable for contact with certain chemical media (depending on medium and application)
- Suitable for high operating temperatures – we recommend the appropriate material depending on the requirements
- High corrosion resistance
- Lightweight
These properties make them suitable for use as thermal insulation in industrial and commercial areas, such as:
- Hydraulic presses for wood and plastic
- Tool and mold making
- Tire presses
- Construction industry
Glastherm® thermal insulation system for machines and systems
Machines and systems must often have an exact operating temperature for a uniform production process and high process accuracy. Equipment components are often thermally insulated for functional or economic reasons. Designers who specify the use of materials with high thermal insulation can contribute to energy efficiency and process stability.
Our Glastherm® thermal insulation systems are specially developed for this purpose. The glass-fibre reinforced composite material is high-strength, temperature-resistant and has a long service life. Thanks to its excellent mechanical stability, Glastherm® can sustainably withstand the high dynamic load that can occur in production facilities. With these properties, Glastherm® thermal insulation systems contribute to the reduction of energy consumption and increased performance of machines.
Typical applications are
- Hydraulic presses for wood and plastic
- Tool and mold making
- Tire presses and rubber processing
More information about Glastherm®
Thermal insulation in buildings with Green Girt
Commercial construction is probably one of the most well-known applications for the use of materials with high thermal insulation. The use of thermally insulating materials makes it easier to regulate the temperature in buildings, reduce energy consumption and increase energy efficiency. High-performance materials with high thermal insulation therefore play an increasingly important role. This also applies in many industrial applications.
Our GreenGirt fibre-reinforced Röchling profile is part of APP's SMARTci thermal insulation system, which significantly increases the energy efficiency of buildings. GreenGirt offers a very high thermal insulation compared to conventional metal profiles. Thermal bridges are avoided and heating and cooling costs are reduced.
Durostone® fasteners
Our fibre-reinforced Durostone® fasteners have a very low thermal conductivity of 0.3 W/mk compared to steel (15–58 W/mk) and a tensile strength that is six times greater than threaded rods made of a thermoplastic, such as polyamide. This makes it possible to use Durostone® fasteners for demanding industrial and commercial applications where cold bridges must be avoided, such as in the construction industry and in refrigeration and air conditioning technology.
More information about our fibre-reinforced Durostone® fasteners
Which characteristic value provides information about the thermal conductivity of a material?
The thermal conductivity index "Lambda" provides information about the thermal conductivity of a material. The unit W/m*K denotes watts per meter and kelvin. The lower the coefficient of thermal conductivity of a material, the lower its thermal conductivity.
What is a thermal or cold bridge?
Materials with a low thermal conductivity contribute to the avoidance of thermal bridges. A thermal bridge is an area in a house, machine or facility where heat is lost more quickly than in other areas. A thermal bridge is often referred to as a cold bridge because the heat lost via the thermal bridge causes the temperature in the building or the machine or the plant to drop. Thus, a thermal bridge or cold bridge is responsible for an energy loss. This is also the reason why this is often undesirable and should be avoided. They contribute to energy and heat losses, they increase energy costs and make it difficult to maintain a constant ambient, operating or process temperature. In the worst case, they can also have a negative effect on the quality of the products manufactured on the machines and plants.
Contact
We would be happy to advise you in detail on the properties and application possibilities of our materials for thermal insulation. Simply use the contact form at the bottom of the page and write to us.
Materials for cryogenic insulation
Our range of materials for thermal insulation includes not only materials for heat insulation but also materials for cryogenic insulation. More information on our materials for cryogenic insulation can be found on our website here.
