Industrial and high-temperature insulation · Ceramic fibre
3T MINEWOOL Ceramic Fiber Blanket
- Service temp.
- 1,050–1,350 °C
- Density
- 128 kg/m³
What is ceramic fibre and where is it used?
In short
Ceramic fibre, technically refractory ceramic fibre (RCF) or alumino-silicate wool (ASW), is fibre insulation made by melting alumina and silica. It is designed for very high-temperature industrial work such as kilns, furnaces, boilers and heat seals. It is not insulation for homes or general buildings. Because IARC places RCF in Group 2B, it should be installed by experienced people using the protective equipment specified in the safety data sheet (SDS).
What is it made from?
RCF is made by melting raw materials that are mainly alumina (Al₂O₃) and silica (SiO₂); some grades add zirconia (ZrO₂) for higher temperatures. The melt is spun or blown into fibres. The most common product is a blanket, which can be wrapped, used as a lining or sewn into insulation jackets. Boards, paper and rope are also made.
The wider family of "high temperature insulation wools" (HTIW) also includes other fibres such as alkaline earth silicate (AES) wool, which has a different health classification from RCF. Check the SDS for the fibre type in a given product.
Where is it used?
- Linings for industrial kilns, ovens and furnaces
- Insulation for boilers, flue ducts and equipment hotter than the range of stone wool or glass wool
- Heat seals and gaskets around furnace doors and openings
- Removable insulation jackets for very hot valves and flanges
Example product: MINEWOOL Ceramic Fiber Blanket, whose documents give a classification temperature and a working temperature as separate values.
Ceramic fibre is often labelled with a "classification temperature" that is higher than the temperature recommended for continuous use. Design with the working temperature from the maker's documents, not the highest number on the label. See what is service temperature.
Why not use it in ordinary buildings?
- Roofs, ceilings, walls and AC pipes do not get hot enough to need ceramic fibre; building insulation such as glass wool or stone wool fits the job better
- RCF has stricter health and dust-control requirements than general building insulation
- "High-temperature resistant" does not give a wall or floor a "fire-resistance rating". Building fire protection needs tested systems. See reaction to fire, non-combustible and fire resistance
Health classification
| Body | Classification of RCF |
|---|---|
| --- | --- |
| IARC (Monographs Vol. 81, 2002) | Group 2B — possibly carcinogenic to humans |
| European Union (CLP Regulation 1272/2008) | Carcinogen category 1B (Carc. 1B) |
For comparison, IARC places insulation glass wool and stone wool used in buildings in Group 3. See is stone wool dangerous?
Installation and removal
- Use contractors experienced with furnace and high-temperature insulation work
- Follow the manufacturer's SDS: control dust, use local exhaust ventilation where practicable, and wear the respiratory protection the SDS specifies, plus eye protection, gloves and coveralls
- Avoid dry sweeping or compressed air; use a suitable vacuum cleaner
- Insulation that has been in service at high temperature may contain crystalline silica (cristobalite); removal needs a risk assessment and extra protection
- Follow Thai occupational-safety law and the plant's own requirements
Sources
- IARC Monographs Volume 81: Man-made Vitreous Fibres (2002) — summary of evaluations
- IARC — Refractory ceramic fibres (summary document)
- ECFIA (European Ceramic Fibres Industry Association) — Facts & Regulation (HTIW, ASW/RCF, AES, CLP Carc. 1B, product stewardship)
- CAREX Canada — Refractory Ceramic Fibres profile
- 3T Insulation — MINEWOOL Ceramic Fiber Blanket catalogue
- ASTM C892 — Standard Specification for High-Temperature Fiber Blanket Thermal Insulation (title only)
Related products
Categories and example products for this topic
- MINEWOOL Ceramic Fiber Blanket — Ceramic fibre blanket, 128 kg/m³, working at 1,050 / 1,350 °C; use PPE per the SDS
- ROCKWOOL ProRox WM — Where temperatures stay within 650–750 °C (by grade), stone wool wired mat is an option
- ASK CS 220 — A rigid option for hot work: Type II up to 1,000 °C, can back refractory brick
Industrial and high-temperature insulation · Stone wool
ROCKWOOL ProRox WM
- Max. temp.
- 650–750 °C
- Density
- 80–128 kg/m³
- Thermal conductivity (λ)
- 0.037–0.038 W/m·K (50 °C)
Industrial and high-temperature insulation · Calcium silicate
ASK CS 220
- Max. temp.
- 650 / 1,000 °C
- Thermal conductivity (λ)
- ≤ 0.060 W/m·K (93 °C)
- Density
- ≤ 220 kg/m³