| When it comes to insulating your pipes, there are any | | | | application at this temperature would be super-heated |
| factors to take into consideration. Take temperature, | | | | steam for turbines in power plants. |
| for instance. How hot are your pipes? Imagine your | | | | - 550+ F: There are several options at this |
| thermos of coffee - it does a great job of keeping | | | | temperature level, including a plain fiberglass cloth, a |
| your java piping hot all day long. But pour in some | | | | stainless steel mesh or a silica based cloth. All of |
| super-heated liquid at 1,000 degrees F and watch | | | | these options are slightly more expensive than the |
| your thermos melt away into a puddle of plastic. | | | | TEFLON/fiberglass covering. The real tradeoff, |
| Different insulation materials are made for different | | | | however, is that they do not have any water or |
| temperatures, both for the covering material and the | | | | abrasion-resistant coating. This is a problem, because |
| insulation material itself. | | | | sometimes you get leaks in pipes, and the |
| Covering Materials | | | | water-resistance coating keeps the insulation from |
| The insulation industry typically divides covering | | | | getting wet. Once wet, the insulation is ruined. These |
| materials for insulation into three temperature | | | | particular cloths are used for the hot side of the |
| buckets: 450 degrees F and less, 450 to 550 F, and | | | | insulation jacket. For the cold side, the TEFLON |
| over 550 F. High heat applications are those that are | | | | fiberglass composite or the silica based cloth can be |
| 450 degrees F and hotter. | | | | used. If the TEFLON/fiberglass composite is used, |
| - Up to 450 degrees F: The covering material for this | | | | there is the added benefit of the water- and |
| temperature range is a silicone impregnated fiberglass | | | | abrasion-resistant coating. However, the silica based |
| cloth (fiberglass/silicone composite) on the outside | | | | cloth is often chosen for its versatility in high |
| covers of the insulating jacket. Remember, this is not | | | | temperature applications. An example of an |
| a high heat application, so the same material is used | | | | extremely high temperature application is an |
| on both the "hot" side and the "cold" side. The hot | | | | emergency generator, like you would see at a |
| side is usually the one that is inside (near the pipe, for | | | | hospital (where people can't afford to see their |
| example) and the cold side would be the outer | | | | bedside equipment turn off when the local power |
| portion of the cover. A steam room for heating is a | | | | company has an outage). Insulation Materials |
| typical situation with this level of heat. | | | | While the industry divides the covering materials into |
| - 450 to 550 F: At these temperatures (now | | | | three temperature ranges, there are only two |
| considered high heat), a TEFLON/fiberglass composite | | | | categories for the actual insulation: up to 1,200 |
| is used on the hot side. This material has a higher | | | | degrees F and more than 1,200 degrees F. |
| temperature limit, while still being less expensive than | | | | - Up to 1,200 degrees F: In this temperature range, |
| the next hot step up. The fiberglass/silicone | | | | needled fiberglass insulation is used. Needling is the |
| composite can still be used on the cold side, in most | | | | process of sticking actual needles into the fiberglass, |
| situations. However, there are some instances where | | | | resulting in a mechanical bond among the fibers. This |
| the TEFLON/fiberglass composite would also be used | | | | is in contrast to resinous or inorganic binders that can |
| on the cold side. The decision depends on the | | | | deteriorate under high heat or shake apart in vibrating |
| atmosphere -- if the application is in a chemical plant | | | | applications. |
| that has a very acidic, corrosive atmosphere, the | | | | - 1,200+ F: For any applications that reach |
| TEFLON/fiberglass covering is used on both sides. | | | | temperatures above 1,200 F, a needled amorphous |
| This way the pH of the atmosphere does not eat | | | | silica insulation is used. |
| away at any of the covering. A good example of an | | | | |