Stone wool slabs. General concepts. What is the acidity module and what is its significance for technonikol products

Among all varieties of mineral wool, stone wool is especially popular. This insulation not only provides a high level of protection against temperature losses, but also has unsurpassed soundproofing properties. All this determines the wide scope of its use.

High quality natural insulation

The very name of the insulation seems to contain some kind of contradiction, because the stone is associated with something solid, dense, heavy and high-strength, while cotton wool is something light, porous, airy. But this insulation really manages to combine a low mass with a high level of resistance to mechanical stress and external influences of a different nature.

Such characteristics are due to the specific origin of stone wool slabs. The insulation is based on volcanic rocks (mainly basalt, as well as diabase and porphyrite), which are melted by TechnoNIKOL specialists at a temperature of 1500 degrees. Further, this plastic mass of future stone wool is sent to a centrifuge, where, as a result of exposure to a strong air flow, it is converted into fine fibers. Then binders are added to them, providing a single structure of the insulation, and a water repellent. Thanks to the latter, stone wool acquires water-repellent properties, which are very important for thermal insulation of external walls.

Due to a special corrugator, the basalt fibers of the material are pressed into a web, sent to the polymerization chamber, where it hardens at a 200-degree temperature, acquiring the final form and the desired characteristics. At the final stage, with the help of cutting equipment, stone wool insulation is divided into blocks, the dimensions of which can vary over a wide range.

Key properties of insulation

One of key indicators characterizing the insulation is the acidity modulus. It reflects the ratio between acidic oxides (substances with a fairly high resistance) and basic oxides (substances with a higher activity) contained in stone wool. Accordingly, the higher this indicator, the less susceptible to external negative influences and the more durable the material will be.

Most of the TechnoNIKOL insulation products have a high acidity modulus, which determines the widespread use of this material in modern construction. In addition, stone wool has the following positive properties:

• Effective thermal insulation. Practically a reference insulation is stone wool, the price of which allows it to be used both for the walls of private residential buildings and for industrial-scale buildings. High resistance to heat transfer can be achieved due to the fact that the closely intertwined fibers of the material hold a large volume of air in a stationary state;
• Removal of moisture from the walls. Traditional heaters cannot stand the effects of water, and when wet, they lose a significant part of their thermal insulation qualities. A material such as stone wool behaves quite differently. This insulation has a high vapor permeability, however, it practically does not retain moisture coming from the room, remaining dry. This is due to the use of stone rocks in the manufacture of material slabs, as well as additional processing with water-repellent solutions carried out by TechnoNIKOL;
• Quality sound absorption. The fibrous structure is the key to the excellent acoustic and sound insulation characteristics of the material. That is why stone wool insulation for walls, the price of which depends on the type of rock, the density of the material, the type of binder and other factors, is so in demand in housing construction.

This material has a lot of advantages, which determine its wide distribution and use. However, stone wool also has some disadvantages. True, most often they are associated either with the acquisition of low-quality insulation, or with improper installation of plates or violation of operating rules.

So, among the potential disadvantages of stone wool can be identified:

• Negative impact on health. This can be avoided by using protective clothing and special equipment when working with insulation. And also obligatory is plastering or facing of stone wool;
• Insulation tracking over time during operation on vertical structures. The solution lies in the careful and even fixing of the boards on the bearing surface;
• The need for mandatory use of a vapor barrier layer to protect stone wool from the side of the room.

Safety is above all

One of the most important problems that need to be solved when insulating walls with stone-based slabs is to provide high level fire safety. Measures taken in this regard sometimes lead to a significant increase in the price of work. However, the use of the TechnoNIKOL product makes it possible to eliminate such a problem.

Thermal insulation for the walls of this brand is made from basalt rocks, which makes it absolutely incombustible, the melting temperature of the fibers exceeds 1 thousand degrees. It is important to note that even when heated, the material does not emit any harmful substances and poisonous gases.

Attention! Quality insulation not only does not ignite itself, but also prevents the spread of heat generated during a fire, protecting wall and roof structures from deformation and destruction. Due to this, it is possible to gain additional time for evacuation, the cost of which in emergency situations is extremely high.

The meaning of density indicators

When choosing a material from TechnoNIKOL, it is necessary to pay attention to a number of key indicators that affect the features of its further application. Be sure to take into account the density, which may be as follows:

1. 30-50 kilograms per cubic meter - mineral wool, which looks like soft fluff, supplied in bags or in rolled rolls, but does not form the usual plates. Its use is mainly in the arrangement of thermal insulation of horizontally oriented planes located indoors, that is, reliably protected from negative external influences. Under load, the material is able to compress to half of its original volume;
2. 75 kilograms per cubic meter - stone wool of a semi-rigid type with a higher density, designed to insulate the horizontal planes of buildings. Has the ability to decrease under pressure by 20 percent;
3. 125 kilograms per cubic meter - a medium-hard insulation with suitable characteristics for its use on horizontal and vertical house structures. The level of its compressibility, laid down by the manufacturer TechnoNIKOL, does not exceed 12 percent;
4. 150-175 kilograms per cubic meter - a material that has a very high rigidity and is supplied to the market in a slab format. Provides high-quality insulation of walls and roof structures. Distinctive feature- the minimum level of compressibility under load, which is approximately 2 percent;
5. 200 kilograms per cubic meter - mineral wool slabs of the elite category, characterized by super strength, due to which it is able to withstand pressure up to 12 MPa.

The high level of strength and density contributes to the presence of the following significant qualities in the material:

• Its shape persists over time;
• Does not deform and practically does not shrink;
• Can withstand quite significant loads.

Varieties and forms of production of TechnoNIKOL stone wool

Due to its high quality level, this heat-insulating material is used extremely widely. However, not in every situation it is convenient to use a heater made in the form of a traditional plate. For example, when thermal insulation of pipes or large surfaces is performed, the material in this form will not work. Therefore, TechnoNIKOL produces stone wool insulation, the price of which is quite affordable, in the following formats:

• In the form of rolls and mats, which are used mainly for the insulation of walls, roofs, ceilings between floors, as well as structures that do not have significant loads. This is due to the fact that the material produced in this form does not have a high density;
• In the form of basalt-based slabs with a density of up to 220 kilograms per cubic meter. Excellent characteristics and reasonable price of a heater provide wider scope of its application. Such wool is suitable for laying under a screed of concrete mortar, on roofs where it is planned to arrange a parking lot for vehicles, as well as in other places that involve high loads;
• In the form of cylinders with holes inside - ideal for thermal insulation work with pipes.

The TechnoNIKOL company produces stone wool insulation, the characteristics, the price of which differ significantly, in a wide range:

• Rocklight is one of the most popular types of insulation, characterized by almost complete versatility and focused on performing the most diverse thermal insulation work. It is made in the form of plates, the dimensions of which are 1 thousand or 1.2 thousand millimeters in length, 500 or 600 millimeters in width, and 50 or 60 millimeters in thickness. The material has fairly average density, vapor permeability, and thermal conductivity. Undoubted advantage of this type are very attractive prices, allowing you to equip high-quality thermal insulation without a significant increase in the budget.
• Technolight is another type of material, which differs from the previous version primarily in lighter weight. The dimensions of the stone wool insulation of this model are generally similar to Rocklite, however, the thickness of the plates can vary from 40 to 200 millimeters. The material does not have a high density, so it is most rational to use it in places where it does not have to experience a significant load: between floor joists, when arranging attic ceilings, partitions, walls.
• Technoblock - insulation boards with a density of 40-50 kilograms per cubic meter, which makes it possible to use them both for interior work and for finishing facades and roofs. Excellent quality and low price makes this insulation option one of the most attractive offers on the market.
• Technovent is a specific type of insulation boards with a high density (within 72-88 kilograms per cubic meter) and is mainly intended for use in the arrangement of the heat-insulating layer of ventilated facades.
• Technoflor is the top of the TechnoNIKOL stone wool range. The material has an increased level of density (up to 185 kilograms per cubic meter) and a thickness in the range from 20 to 150 millimeters.

Applications

This heat-insulating material, due to its high performance, and also due to the fact that its price is quite low, is used for insulating a wide variety of building structures, from partitions with walls to ceilings and roofs. It is able to withstand prolonged use in conditions where it is simply irrational to use other types of heaters for the reason that their service life will be extremely short.

Attention! The indisputable advantage of stone wool is that it can be used without any problems in those rooms where there is always a high level of humidity, in particular, baths, saunas, swimming pools.

It is difficult to find a more suitable material for the thermal insulation of the facades of the most different types ranging from ventilated, hinged and ending with such a specific option as wet facades. Stone wool perfectly combines with sandwich panels and walls, the laying of which is made according to the layered principle.

The versatility of the insulation is also manifested in the fact that it is excellent for minimizing temperature losses in pipelines. This is primarily due to the fact that this material easily tolerates the effects of extreme temperatures in the range from -100 to +1 thousand degrees. Not the last role in the choice of stone wool is played by its low price, thanks to which it is possible to significantly reduce the cost of thermal insulation work on large-scale projects.

High density and resistance to deformation makes it possible to use such plates in places where the influence of high mechanical loads is expected. Therefore, this insulation is perfect for use in private, multi-storey and industrial construction.

When carrying out works on thermal insulation of ventilated facades, it is advisable to use two-layer stone wool slabs. Their peculiarity lies in the fact that each layer has different density indicators: a softer and looser layer is directed towards the wall, and a denser layer is directed outward. Thus, it is possible to achieve high-quality insulation and provide effective ventilation.

stone wool made from rocks and is a fibrous material consisting of many stone threads. Basalt rock is heated and under the influence high pressure air, stretches into thin, stone hair strands. Without going into the complicated process of preparation, we are sure that we have enough knowledge to understand what stone wool is. Stone wool is often referred to as basalt.

Products based on basalt wool have excellent thermal insulation characteristics, long service life, endurance to various negative influences.For the mountain component, basalt wool is often called as - stone.

Stone wool, or rather superfine fiber, has a chemically neutral composition, so it does not decompose over time, does not enter into chemical interaction with aggressive substances and does not emit toxic components. It is safe for humans and environment insulation.

Consumers have become more practical in their approach to the choice of insulation materials, one of the first requirements on the list is taking care of their health. Since stone wool has a natural basis, it is completely safe for human health. You can buy and use basalt fiber safely even in institutions with high sanitary standards. we will be told in the video review:

Stone wool, scope

Stone wool made of basalt fiber is widely used in various industries and construction. This material is not afraid of high temperatures, is refractory and is able to retain its shape during prolonged exposure to fire, protecting the building from the rapid spread of fire. Structures insulated with mineral wool acquire a high fire resistance class.

The main options for the use of stone wool are the insulation of external walls, roofs, ceilings and partitions, thermal insulation of industrial installations, water supply and heating pipes. Durable, durable and fireproof sandwich panels are made from high-quality basalt wool.

In the production of boiler equipment, stone wool is used for furnaces in order to protect the consumer from burns and increase the efficiency of the units by saving thermal energy.

Most likely, stone wool, like any material, has its pros and cons. Nonetheless, The wide scope of application of mineral wool insulation is due to the unique properties of super-thin basalt fiber. Here are the main characteristics and advantages of the material as evidence.

Low thermal conductivity of basalt wool

Due to the fibrous structure, basalt wool contains a lot of air trapped between randomly intertwined threads. The thermal conductivity of the air itself is very low, and since it is enclosed in microvoids and is in a stationary state, there is no convection, which leads to good thermal insulation properties of the product.

fire safety

This is perhaps the main advantage of basalt mineral wool over other heaters. The stone base of cotton wool does not burn and does not melt at temperatures up to 1400 degrees. It should be noted that the composition of the mineral wool contains synthetic resins that glue the fibers together. When heated to 250 degrees, the resins evaporate, but the fibers retain their position in the absence of mechanical stress. Due to this, mineral wool rigid slabs and soft mats retain their geometry, preventing the spread of fire inside the building.

Such refractory insulation is used for thermal insulation of objects that require compliance with special rules. fire safety. Stone wool does not burn and does not support combustion. Fiber is often used to create a fire barrier in the chemical industry.

Shape and dimensional stability

Mineral wool from basalt fiber does not cake and does not shrink due to the elasticity of the fibers. Depending on the concentration of binder resins, mineral wool products of medium and high hardness (plates), as well as soft products (rolls, granules, mats) are distinguished. Rigid slabs do not deform under their own weight and can be installed on vertical structures.

Due to the ability of the plates to retain their original shape, the formation of cracks in the heat-insulating layer is prevented. Soft insulation, laid on horizontal surfaces, tightly adjoins the structures, without forming gaps at the joints between them. Under mechanical stress, such materials are compressed, and then straightened, returning the previous volume. This makes it possible to fill hard-to-reach and hollow sections of buildings with stone wool.

Good soundproof performance

Due to the chaotic arrangement of the threads inside the mineral wool, sound and shock vibrations are suppressed. One of the manufacturers manufacturing soundproof boards, where stone wool serves as the basis, is TechnoNIKOL company. Using such material for the insulation of external walls, it is possible to protect the premises from street noise.

If the material is laid on interfloor floors or internal partitions, this allows you to effectively soundproof neighboring rooms. The walls of the loggia, where stone wool has become a heater, absorb street noise more intensively, keeping the apartment calm.

Vapor permeability

Stone wool is treated with water repellents that prevent moisture droplets from sticking to microscopic fibers. Moisture vapor passes between the threads without condensing on their surface, therefore, with natural vapor pressure in the direction from the living quarters to the outside, excess moisture is removed. Due to this process, structures insulated with mineral wool remain dry. In the premises of an insulated house, the likelihood of dampness and mold formation is reduced, the air becomes cleaner.

Since the gas molecules pass through the entire thickness of the mineral wool, their continuous circulation leads to a partial purification of the atmosphere in the house. Carbon dioxide goes outside, and clean air enters the building. Thanks to this, the microclimate improves, it becomes more comfortable in residential premises.

This is true if your house insulated with basalt wool does not have intensive use in winter. If your home is constantly heated, then in winter period when there are strong negative temperatures outside, vapor condensation is possible at the junction of the warm inner surface of the wall and its cold outer surface. The so-called “dew point” is formed precisely in the insulation. Despite the fact that stone wool is subjected to destruction with great resistance, we strongly advise you not to skimp and use vapor barrier membranes.

Stone wool cons

• Vapor barrier and wind protection required “Stone wool needs its own protection. A vapor barrier film protecting it from the side of the room will help save the insulation. The windscreen will keep the material from blowing out and getting moisture from rain or snow on it.

• high thermal conductivity - in terms of thermal insulation properties, stone wool loses to such material as. The owner will have to increase the thickness of the basalt fiber insulation in order to equalize the performance. .

• crumbles - during the installation process, the fiber is slightly destroyed, as a result of which small particles enter the room creating stone dust. A regular respirator will help protect employees, but it’s not pleasant to work in such conditions. In small quantities, the effect of the formation of dust particles can occur during operation. As a conclusion, isolation of the material itself and work with the use of protective equipment are required.

• caking - stone wool has a significant weight and during long storage it compacts under its own weight. The caking results in a loss of thermal conductivity. Moreover, compacted basalt wool is more susceptible to destructive processes. Another negative point, caked stone wool will have to be strengthened by resorting to additional fasteners, which will lead to an increase in cost. installation work.

The economic benefit from the use of basalt thermal insulation is that during the operation of the building, heat losses are reduced and, as a result, heating costs are reduced. The main structures acquire good protection from freezing and temperature changes, so they do not require large repair costs and become more durable. Manufacturers claim a 50-year warranty on the material.

The rigidity of the material.

We are used to seeing hard slabs of stone fiber on the shelves. However, stone wool is often soft and packaged in rolls. Soft stone wool is used in places where there is no strong mechanical load. The soft version is perfect for well masonry. Often, builders insulate ventilated facades with soft basalt wool, not exceeding four floors.

Mineral-based stone wool (aka) is presented in the form of a heater, which is in rather high demand on the market building materials.

Currently, there are a considerable number of manufacturers of this type of mineral wool, which is actively used as a reliable and effective insulation.

Before you buy mineral wool slabs and start using them, you should pay attention to the reviews and technical specifications of this insulation.

1 Material features

Stone, or as it is also called, basalt wool, in contrast to such a heater as polystyrene foam, has rocks in its composition. Basalt wool contains the following rocks:

• metamorphic;
• Basalt like;
• Marl.

Expanded polystyrene, unlike the presented mineral wool, contains more substances of artificial origin.

The service life of a material such as expanded polystyrene also differs significantly from this indicator of mineral wool.

In addition, mineral wool differs from a material such as polystyrene foam by a pronounced acidity property, which manifests itself in the amount of basic oxides in the composition of such a heater.

Expanded polystyrene has different dimensions and service life than the dimensions and service life of mineral wool used as a heater.

It is worth noting that polystyrene foam cannot boast (unlike mineral wool) such a parameter as a long service life, and the inclusion of carbonate additives in its composition, which are able to regulate the acidity level of the insulation.

The long service life of mineral wool and its high technical characteristics are well received.

This is due to the presence of a high level of acidity, which basalt wool has. Expanded polystyrene does not have such an indicator of water resistance, which means it is inferior to mineral wool in such values ​​as strength and long service life of the insulation.

Therefore, the size and service life of the presented materials vary significantly. In addition, expanded polystyrene does not contain a binder, which has a significant impact on its technical characteristics and dimensions.

As connecting elements that improve the technical characteristics of the presented insulation are:

• Bituminous binders for;
• Materials with synthetic origin;
• Substances of the combined type;
• bentonite elements.

However, the most popular substance that can improve the characteristics of such a heater as basalt wool is synthetic material, which contains formaldehyde-type resins and all kinds of plasticizing additives.

Among the main technical characteristics of the presented material, which received positive feedback, there are indicators:

• thermal conductivity;
• moisture absorption;
• Steam transmission ability;
• fire resistance;
• Strength (it should be like y);
• Soundproof properties.

2 Thermal conductivity and moisture absorption

Basalt wool is different in that the fibers inside it are not arranged in a pre-formed order - they are scattered randomly.

This gives the structure of the substance an element of airiness, which primarily affects the size of such a heater as basalt wool.

Inside the material has a huge amount air gaps, which are located between stone fibers, because the presented material is an excellent heat insulator.

The sizes of stone wool slabs can be different, and reviews about it are mostly positive. This substance has a rather low coefficient of thermal conductivity - from 0.032 to 0.048 watts per meter.

The presented material has hydrophobic properties. That is, when water gets on it, it cannot penetrate inside, this leads to the fact that the thermal insulation parameters remain unchanged.

Stone wool is ideal for warming a room with a high degree of humidity, and its water absorption rate is only 2% like that.

The fact is that water is not absorbed into the fibers of the insulation, but flows around them, since during production it is impregnated with special oils.

2.1 Vapor capacity and fire resistance

It is known that basalt-type fibers, regardless of the level of their density, are distinguished by excellent vapor permeability.

The moisture that is in the air can easily penetrate through the insulation layer, while condensation will not appear.

This factor is especially important for baths and saunas. The presented substance cannot get wet, and therefore it reliably retains heat.

Based on this, those rooms in which the presented material is used are characterized by optimal temperature and humidity conditions.

The value of the vapor permeability index of this substance is 0.3 mg / (m h Pa). In accordance with all fire safety requirements, stone wool is officially considered a non-combustible material.

2.2 Sound insulation and strength

The acoustic properties of basalt wool are also quite good in everything that concerns the soundproofing aspect. Stone wool is capable of damping vertical sound waves.

Which can come from the walls. Because of this, the living space can be effectively isolated from outside noise.

When absorbing sound waves, the insulation reduces the reverberation time by many times, which forms effective noise protection not only in one room, but also in neighboring rooms.

Since the basalt fibers in the composition of this substance are arranged randomly, some of them are in a vertical position.

This suggests that even a relatively thin layer of stone wool is able to withstand significant mechanical loads.

For example, at a deformation level of 10%, the material will have a compressive strength equal to a value of 5-80 kilopascals.

Due to such rather high strength characteristics of the insulation, the service life is significantly increased, while the product does not lose its original shape and size.

Stone wool insulation is one of the proven methods of performing work that reduces heat energy losses, both when laying insulation on the outside of the building and on the inside.

Stone wool is a fibrous heat-insulating material made from silicate melts of rocks and volcanic rocks, as well as basalt.

Stone wool has a number of advantages in comparison with other types of insulation, which determine the scope of its use and the variety of places of application.

Description, types and features of production

Stone wool is produced, as already mentioned above, from melts of various rocks. The most common type of stone wool is a material made on the basis of basalt, such insulation is also called "basalt wool".

Stone wool is made in special furnaces, in which natural rocks of mountain, volcanic origin or the same basalt are melted at high temperatures.

The rock in the liquid state is drawn into fibers, to which binding components are added, after which the threads (fibers) are treated with special solutions that improve the technical characteristics of the resulting product.

After that, the threads are thermally processed again, as a result of which their polycondensation occurs and the insulation is formed in the specified geometric dimensions.

When forming stone wool slabs, resins based on phenol and formaldehyde are used.

Types of stone wool

Depending on the rigidity of the resulting insulation, basalt wool is classified as:

• Soft.
• Medium hardness.
• Rigid.

The soft type of stone wool is made from fibers of the smallest thickness, which, when formed into a slab, create a large number of air cavities that determine the product's ability to retain heat.

This type of insulation is prone to destruction under the influence of external mechanical loads, therefore it is used in the construction of roofs, ceilings, floors and other building structures, which, when finishing sewn up with other materials.

The material is of medium hardness, made of thicker and, accordingly, stiffer fibers, which allows it to be used for facade insulation, engineering structures(ventilation and cable ducts, heating mains), as well as other types of work (sound and fire safety) at similar facilities.

Rigid type of stone wool, used in places where there are significant mechanical loads.
Products of this type are placed under concrete screed and plaster directly on their surface with a reinforcing layer device.

Stone wool is produced in the form of plates (medium hardness and hard type) and rolls ( soft look), as well as special cylinders used for thermal insulation of pipelines.

Main technical characteristics

The characteristics that determine the physical properties of stone wool are:

1. Thermal conductivity.
   The ability to transmit heat through its surface. The thermal conductivity coefficient for this type of insulation is from 0.032 to 0.048 W / (m * K), depending on the type and raw materials used.
2. Hydrophobicity.
   The ability to absorb moisture. For this material, this indicator is less than 2 percent of the volume of the product, which indicates that stone wool practically does not absorb water and can be used in rooms with a humid environment (bathrooms and showers, kitchens and bath rooms, as well as basements and exteriors).
3. Vapor permeability.
   The ability to pass substances in the vapor state. The vapor permeability coefficient for stone wool is 0.3 mg / (m * h * Pa). With the penetration of water vapor on the surface of the insulation, condensate does not form, moisture is not absorbed into the structure of the material.
4. Fire resistance.
   The ability to resist the spread of flames. Stone wool is a non-combustible material that does not support combustion. The material is able to withstand high temperatures, above 1000 * C, while not melting and preventing the spread of fire.
5. Soundproofing.
   Stone wool is a good sound insulator that can dampen sound waves.
6. Strength.
   Due to the fact that the insulation is made of a large number threads, even soft-type products have a certain margin of safety, and medium-hard and hard ones can withstand significant external mechanical loads.
7. Resistance to chemically active substances and biological organisms.
   This material is chemically passive. It does not enter into chemical reactions with materials (wood, metal, plastic, etc.) and is not susceptible to the formation of microorganisms and mold, and is also not affected by rodents.
8. Environmental Safety.
   Although resins based on phenol and formaldehyde are used in the production of stone wool, their quantity is insignificant, then this material is considered environmentally friendly, moreover, in the production process, these substances are neutralized.
9. Geometric dimensions.
   The thickness of the sheets (roll) is a multiple of 50.0 mm, while this value is the minimum possible, and the maximum produced size is 200.0 mm. When selling stone wool in rolls, its length can be 10.0 m (depending on the thickness), and its width can be 1.2 meters. When sold in slabs, the size is 1000x1200 mm.

Stone wool: application

This material is universal, due to its technical characteristics.

In construction, stone wool is used for:

• installation of ventilated facades of buildings for various purposes;
• insulation of building structures both inside and outside buildings;
• warming engineering communications and elements of buildings made of various materials;
• for isolation of fire-hazardous zones and objects that normally operate at high temperatures;
• for soundproofing objects and buildings for various purposes.

Is there any harm to health during installation

The rules of work and safety measures, as well as possible negative impacts on the health of a person working with stone wool, are regulated by the Interstate Standard “GOST 9573-2012 Heat-insulating mineral wool slabs on a synthetic binder. Specifications».

The very basis of the insulation (natural breeds used) are safe substances, but resins containing phenol and formaldehyde in their composition are potential sources of danger to human health, while different researchers give completely contradictory conclusions on this matter.

It is believed that due to a special production technology that ensures the neutralization of harmful substances, as well as their low content per unit volume of insulation, stone wool is an environmentally friendly material.

Stone dust formed on the surface of the insulation has a negative impact on human health if it enters the respiratory tract. In this regard, when working with stone wool, it is necessary to use personal protective equipment - respirators, masks and protective gloves.

How to choose stone wool

When choosing stone wool, it is necessary to pay attention to the peculiarities of performing work with its use, as well as the advantages and disadvantages of this insulating material.

Features of use

The criteria for choosing stone wool are:

• Compliance of technical characteristics with the place of use and destination.
• Environmental friendliness.
• Price.

Advantages and disadvantages

The advantages of using stone wool determine its technical characteristics, these are:

• Excellent thermal insulation parameters.
• Good soundproof characteristics.
• Fire safety.
• Versatility of use.
• Resistance to chemicals, microorganisms and rodents.
• Small degree of water absorption.
• Long terms of operation.
• Environmental Safety.
• Ease of installation work.

Disadvantages are also present, but they are much less than advantages, these are:

• Relatively high cost.
• During installation, dust is present, which adversely affects human health.
• When performing installation work, it is necessary to seal the joints between individual sheets (strips) of insulation.

Installation work

When installing stone wool, a lot depends on the correct choice of the type of material used (soft, medium hardness, hard) and its suitability for the place of application.

When mounting on various building elements and structures, it is necessary to follow general recommendations doing the work, somehow:

• When insulating a roof with a significant slope, it is necessary to use stone wool with a thickness of at least 150 mm and a density of 40 kg/m3.
• When constructing interior partitions, the density of the insulation must be at least 50 kg / m3, which will ensure both thermal insulation and sound insulation in the required parameters.
• When installing a ventilated facade or insulation outer wall, it is necessary to use plates with a thickness of at least 100 mm, with a density of at least 80 kg/m3.
• When using stone wool when installing a ventilated facade, it is better to use two types of insulation stacked on top of each other. At the same time, loose, having a lower density, fits to the surface of the wall, and more dense - outside.

Installation of stone wool is carried out in the following sequence:

• A vapor barrier or waterproofing (floor) is mounted on the surface to be insulated (wall, floor).
• A frame is mounted, in the internal space of which a heater will be laid.
• The frame can be made of lumber (timber, edged board) or galvanized perforated profile.
• To fasten the frame to the insulated surface, nails, expansion anchors or anchor bolts corresponding to the material of the insulated surface.
• Between themselves, the elements of the frame are connected by self-tapping screws and connecting elements (perforated corners, plates, etc.).
• The step of the frame guides corresponds to the width of the insulation.
• Basalt wool is laid in the frame, while using special adhesive compositions (liquid, dry mixtures or gas-filled) applied to the insulated surface or insulation.
• When laying the insulation, it is pressed against the surface to be insulated.
• With a vertical arrangement of sheets (strips), the insulation is fixed with special expansion dowels with a wide cap (fungi).
• Joints of sheets and strips of insulation are sealed mounting foam and special adhesive tapes.
• After the installation of the insulation is completed, the waterproofing is laid. Finishing coat is being installed.

When laying stone wool, you will need cutting tool(construction knife), by means of which sheets (strips) are cut to the required length and textured elements are cut out on the surface to be insulated.

The use of stone wool as an insulating material has become quite widespread due to its availability, good technical performance and the ability to perform work using it on its own, without the involvement of qualified personnel.

Mineral thermal insulation includes three types of materials: stone wool, glass wool and slag wool. The difference lies in the raw materials used to make the product.

stone wool- heat and sound insulating material, which is produced mainly from the melt of igneous rocks.

As one of the main components of raw materials for the production of stone wool are igneous rocks of the gabbro-basalt group and metamorphic rocks similar in chemical composition, as well as marls.

TechnoNIKOL stone wool is a non-combustible insulation, ideal for thermal insulation, fire protection, and creating acoustic comfort indoors.

What is the difference between TechnoNIKOL stone wool and other types of insulation?

TechnoNIKOL stone wool is a non-combustible material. Stone wool fibers are able to withstand temperatures without melting up to 1000 ºС. Stone wool products have heat and sound insulation properties due to their open porous structure. The air enclosed in the pores of stone wool has a low thermal conductivity and is in a stationary state, this is what determines its excellent thermal insulation qualities. Due to the open porosity, stone wool is a vapor-permeable material, the vapor permeability is approximately 0.25 - 0.35 mg/m·h·Pa. The density of thermal insulation can vary widely from about 30 kg / m³ to 220 kg / m³, therefore, the physical and mechanical characteristics also differ, so rigid plates are able to withstand a distributed load of 70 kPa (7000 kg / m²!).

Products can be produced coated with aluminum foil, kraft paper, fiberglass, etc.

What is the service life of TechnoNIKOL stone wool?

The service life of TechnoNIKOL stone wool slabs is at least 50 years, which is commensurate with the service life of the building.

All manufactured products from TECHNONICOL brand stone wool are characterized by a long service life in building structures. This is due to both the characteristics of an individual fiber and the operation of the entire thermal insulation material in construction.

Can you carry a pack of stone wool alone?

Despite the fact that the raw material for manufacturing is predominantly molten rock, stone wool slabs are light in weight, so one person can easily handle the transport of the material.

Also, TechnoNIKOL stone wool slabs are packed in shrink film, which undoubtedly facilitates the work with the material.

How does TechnoNIKOL stone wool reduce the noise level?

TechnoNIKOL stone wool slabs have good sound absorption of airborne and impact noise in a wide frequency range. Sound absorption is provided by a fibrous structure that effectively dampens the sound wave.

TechnoNIKOL stone wool is a highly porous material with a flexible skeleton. The mechanism of absorption of sound energy is as follows: sound waves, meeting with the surface of a porous material, cause the air inside the pores to oscillate. The pores have great resistance to the flow of air passing through them, due to which the sound wave is damped and absorbed when passing through the structure of the material, as a result of viscous friction, part of the sound energy is converted into heat.

Also, TechnoNIKOL stone wool slabs are used in floating floor structures, due to high sound insulation characteristics (relative compression and modulus of elasticity), the material effectively reduces impact noise.

In which soundproof structures can TechnoNIKOL stone wool be used?

TechnoNIKOL stone wool helps to fight all kinds of noise - both airborne and shock. In the "application" section of the website www.website you can see the various sound insulation solutions that use stone wool based material:

• used to combat airborne noise dropped ceilings, floors along logs, partitions and internal soundproof lining;
• to combat impact noise - floating floor systems and floors on logs.

TechnoNIKOL Corporation received a conclusion from the Research Institute of Building Physics (NIISF RAASN) on the topic: “Measuring soundproof properties structures with the use of stone wool, manufactured by TechnoNIKOL, which reflects the test results of the above soundproofing solutions, indicating noise reduction indices in dB.

It must be remembered that soundproofing is a whole range of measures aimed at achieving acoustic comfort. The first step is to find the source of the noise.

Sometimes the source itself is located outside the building, but often the cause is still located inside, for example: ventilation systems, pumping equipment, elevators, garbage chutes, etc. engineering equipment, noisy neighbors. Only after that it is necessary to take the necessary measures for soundproofing.

What material can be used for fire protection? - ceilings, columns, etc.

The range of TechnoNICOL stone wool materials includes specially designed slabs for fire protection of steel and reinforced concrete structures, TECHNO OZM Slab and TECHNO OZB Slab, respectively, which are capable of providing up to 4 hours of fire protection for building structures, which is confirmed by full-scale tests.

Is it possible to cut TechnoNICOL stone wool products right on site?

Slabs, mats and cylinders made of TechnoNICOL stone wool can be easily cut on site using a fine-toothed knife or a hacksaw, which can be purchased at any hardware store. For mats with a steel mesh lining, it is recommended to use wire cutters or scissors for metal.

How to choose the right stone wool material for insulation of a particular structure?

TechnoNIKOL stone wool is intended for use in various fields and structures that require certain physical and mechanical characteristics of the material.

For example, the density of light grades starts from 25 kg/m3, and for roof insulation, the density is about 200 kg/m3. Therefore, it is very important to choose the right thermal insulation for each structure!

To facilitate the search for areas of application, you can use the convenient navigation block "EXPERT" on the site, where there is a division by product and application of each brand of TechnoNIKOL stone wool.

How is the environmental friendliness of TechnoNIKOL stone wool achieved?

The production of mineral wool insulation based on stone wool is a complex set of various technological processes. That is why TECHNO factories have always paid and continue to pay Special attention each link in this chain: both the quality of the initial raw materials and the strict observance of all stages of the production process - this is a guarantee of high consumer properties of the final product!

Environmental issues begin at the stage of selection of raw materials. The main raw material for the production of TECHNO mineral fiber is the stone raw material of the basalt group of rocks: basalt, porphyrite, gabbro-diabase, etc. It is the most common class of minerals that make up the earth's crust and are nothing more than frozen volcanic lava that has come to the surface or remained in the thickness of the earth - this is a material of completely natural origin.

TECHNO factories are equipped with the latest, fully automated equipment of European companies specializing in this area (Denmark, Slovenia, Germany). Reliable uniform bundle of fibers makes the material practically dust-free, which means it is environmentally friendly. All activities of the enterprise are based on strict observance of sanitary and hygienic standards: waste-free production, a system for cleaning and afterburning gases, and highly efficient dust-collecting equipment.

The ISO 9001:2000 certificate is a document confirming to the consumer that the production of heat-insulating mineral wool boards meets the requirements of international standards.

Ecological safety of TECHNONICOL stone wool is confirmed complete package mandatory documentation (an expert opinion on compliance with unified sanitary-epidemiological and hygienic requirements), according to which materials can be used outside and inside any type of premises (both residential and industrial).

Is rock wool food for rodents?

TechnoNIKOL stone wool is a biologically resistant material. Biological resistance refers to the ability of a material to withstand the effects of various macro- and microorganisms: the material does not support the vital activity of bacteria, mold, fungi, and is also not attractive as an environment for the existence of insects and rodents. TECHNONICOL products fully meet the criteria of biological stability, which is confirmed both by numerous tests and trials, and by field observations.

TechnoNIKOL stone wool consists of a material that does not attract rodents as food and is not food for them. Under forced conditions, rodents act on TechnoNICOL stone wool slabs like any other material, in cases where it is an obstacle (obstacle) to access to food and water or to satisfy other physiological needs of the animal.

Under conditions of free choice, rodents act on stone wool if they need bedding material. If there is a choice of nesting material (burlap, paper), TechnoNIKOL stone wool slabs attract rodents last.

It is known that for mice and concrete will not be a hindrance. If necessary - gnaw!

What is hydrophobicity?

Hydrophobicity (from other Greek ὕδωρ - water and φόβος - fear, fear) is physical property a molecule that "tends" to avoid contact with water. The molecule itself in this case is called hydrophobic.

About 70% of all damage to building structures is caused by moisture.

The presence of moisture in the insulation adversely affects its thermal insulation properties, service life and microclimate of the room. If the insulation gets wet, costly and time-consuming measures are required to eliminate the consequences, which most often consist in replacing most of the structural elements. Stone wool should not be subjected to direct soaking, because it loses its properties when wet.

TECHNONICOL materials are made of stone and treated with water-repellent additives that give the insulation water-repellent properties. However, this allows them to be resistant only to short-term exposure to water.

How to store and transport stone wool material?

When working with TechnoNICOL stone wool material, you should follow the rules of transportation and storage.

Transportation:

• Products are transported by all means of transport in covered vehicles in accordance with the rules for the carriage of goods in force on this type of transport.
• It is allowed to transport products over a distance of up to 500 km in open vehicles with mandatory protection from atmospheric precipitation.

Storage:

• Boards should be stored packed and stacked on pallets separately by brand and size. The height of the stack is not more than 3 m.
• Mats and cylinders should be stored packed and stacked on pallets or in containers separately by brand and size.
• Pallets must be stored on a dry, level surface. During the entire period of storage, the material must be protected from the effects of precipitation.

How easy is it to work with TechnoNIKOL stone wool material?

A distinctive feature of heat and sound insulating slabs based on TECHNONICOL stone wool is a clear positioning of products according to the field of application. The characteristics are selected in such a way that the material works as reliably and efficiently as possible in this design. The products are compatible with all types of building materials (with the exception of acrylic decorative compositions on plaster facades). The installation of mineral wool insulation is most often a “dry” process (with the exception of plaster facades). You will never be touched by the problem of shrinkage deformations, you do not need expensive special equipment, you do not have to waste time waiting for moisture to come out of the material. The surface of the insulation is immediately ready for subsequent operations. An important advantage of the "dry" process is the ability to work at negative temperatures.

The insulation work is safe and does not require special skills when insulating surfaces of any complexity.

All you need to do is to precisely cut the material and lay it in the structure without leaving any gaps.

When working with the material, it is important to follow the rules:

• when cutting, a sharp knife with fine teeth or a hacksaw is used;
• it is necessary to ensure sufficient ventilation of the room;
• when performing work, the insulation must not be allowed to get wet - when working in the rain, it is necessary to apply protective coatings(hydrowind protection, polyethylene film). Materials based on stone wool are hydrophobized, which gives protection only against short-term water ingress;
• If necessary, use personal protective equipment (gloves, goggles and a respirator).

How important is vapor permeability for a building material?

Due to the fact that there is always a difference in air temperatures inside and outside the building, and as a result, a pressure difference, there is always diffusion of water vapor through the building envelope towards an area of ​​more low pressure. The process of the appearance of moisture and its accumulation in the structure can be attributed to one of the most harmful factors, which leads to the destruction of the structure, the reduction of thermal protection, the deterioration of the microclimate, the appearance of mold, fungi, etc.

The vapor permeability of a building material is the ability of a layer of material to pass water vapor as a result of the difference in the partial pressure of water vapor at the same atmospheric pressure on both sides of the building material layer. This ability to retain or pass water vapor is characterized by the value of the vapor permeability coefficient or vapor permeability resistance.

Particular attention should be paid to this parameter in the conditions of the use of modern building materials and technologies. Namely, setting metal doors with rubber seals plastic windows and panels, applications vinyl wallpaper, paint and varnish products, insufficient distribution of air conditioning systems and forced ventilation.

Due to good vapor permeability, the use of TECHNONICOL stone wool will help to avoid the accumulation of moisture in the enclosing structure, which can lead not only to loss of heat-saving properties, but also to the destruction of the structure itself.

The structure of TECHNONICOL stone wool consists of almost 90% air, which is the basis of vapor permeability (the walls “breathe”). Water vapor freely seeps through the material without having time to condense in the thickness. The use of water-repellent material additives reduces the wettability of the material and prevents moisture from entering the fiber structure. The vapor permeability index of TECHNONICOL stone wool is 0.3 mg/h Pa m.

Phenol-formaldehyde binder is used to produce stone wool, can it be used in the house, is it not harmful?

In the production of insulation, a small amount (from 2 to 4.5%) of imported phenol-formaldehyde binder of the latest generation is used, which is completely polymerized (hardens) - the degree of polymerization is 99%. All our materials are certified by the SanEpidNadzor authorities for compliance with MPC standards. All products have a sanitary and epidemiological certificate for compliance with these standards and the scope for residential, public, etc. is indicated. buildings.

For reference: Phenol-formaldehyde resins are widely used in the furniture industry (plywood, chipboard, fiberboard, OSB).

People do not think about what tables they sit at, eat, what beds they sleep on. A heater with such a low content of organic substances is located inside partitions or walls.

How radioactive is stone wool and is there a radiation certificate?

The raw materials for the production of stone wool insulation are rocks of the gabbro-basalt group. This is a natural natural stone that is not radioactive.

For TECHNO brand products, there is a laboratory test report No. 5/SM dated January 17, 2007 for determining the specific effective activity of natural radionuclides, issued by an accredited radiation monitoring laboratory of CJSC Institute RYAZANPROEKT. According to the protocol, the products have a level of individual radionuclides of 39±6 Bq/kg, with a maximum allowable value of 370 Bq/kg according to NRS-99.

TechnoNIKOL stone wool is produced according to the Technical Specifications, does this mean that it is worse than GOST?

Mineral wool slabs of grades P-75, P-125, P-175, P-225 are produced in accordance with GOST 9573-96 "HEAT-INSULATING PLATES OF MINERAL WOOL WITH SYNTHETIC BINDER".

In terms of physical and mechanical parameters, the products comply with the requirements of this document.

TECHNO products are manufactured in accordance with the Technical Specifications (TS) developed at the factory.

Requirements to physical and mechanical characteristics in TU is much higher than GOST for plates "P".

Accordingly, TECHNO products have additionally regulated strength characteristics that are important in their field of application. This is the compressive strength for flat roof, peel strength of layers for facades, etc.

How is stone wool produced?

The method of producing fiber from stone was “peeped” from nature: after volcanic eruptions in the Hawaiian Islands, the so-called “Pele’s Hair” was found - cotton wool from thin threads of volcanic rocks, which turned out to be the “predecessors” modern material. For the first time, rock wool was obtained in the USA in 1897. The modern production of stone wool is based on the principle of operation similar to the work of a volcano: In a furnace, where the temperature reaches about 1500 ºС, a fiery liquid melt is obtained from the rocks, which is then pulled into fiber by various ways:

• Blast method
• Centrifugal-roll method
• Centrifugal blow method
• Centrifugal spinneret-blast method
• Other modified methods

After the fiberization process, the binder is introduced by spraying the binder onto the fibers, watering the stone wool carpet, or preparing hydromasses. A carpet made of stone wool with a binder applied to the fibers is subjected to heat treatment, where a coolant with a temperature of 180-230 ° C provokes a polycondensation reaction of the binder. The content of organic matter in the finished product is typically around 3% by weight. Then the products are cut into required dimensions, packaging and warehousing.

What is the acidity module and what is its significance for TechnoNIKOL products?

One of the main indicators of the quality of stone wool fibers is the acidity modulus - the ratio between acidic and basic oxides.

The highest quality stone wool can be obtained from mountain gabbro-basalt rocks, with the introduction of additives of carbonate rocks to control the acidity modulus.

According to the value of the acidity modulus, stone wool can be classified according to GOST 4640-93 “Mineral wool. Specifications", as follows (3 types):

• A - acidity modulus St. 1.6
• B - module of acidity St. 1.4 to 1.6
• B - module of acidity St. 1.2 to 1.4

Wool with a high acidity modulus is more water resistant and therefore more durable.

Stone wool TechnoNICOL correspond to type A acidity module according to GOST 4640-93.

What role does the binder play in stone wool production?

One of the components of stone wool insulation is a binder that holds the fibers together, thereby providing the products with the specified shape and density parameters. Types of binder (possible):

• Bituminous binders
• synthetic binders. As a rule, these are phenol alcohols, phenol-formaldehyde, carbamide resins.
• Composite binders (binders consisting of several components).
• Bentonite clays.

At present, the most common use is a composite synthetic binder consisting of phenol-formaldehyde resins, water-repellent and plasticizing additives. In the finished product, phenol and formaldehyde are in a bound state, the binder is inert to the environment.

1.22 Does your stove prick much more than other manufacturers?

When working with all fibrous insulation, there is such a feeling. The reason lies in the fact that the structure of the fibers is not always uniform. The melt of rock, transforming into thin threads, in addition to the glass phase, which is the main part of the fiber, contains inclusions of the crystalline phase (crystals). Such fibers are weakened, more brittle, prone to breakage (as, for example, the fragility of a human hair, although its diameter is 10-15 times the diameter of the fiber). The sensation of "causticity" is created by "fragments" of fibers. The fight against this phenomenon is carried out by all manufacturers of fibrous insulation. As for "pricks harder" is, for the most part, a subjective factor. Use protective equipment (gloves, mask) - they will completely help to avoid inconvenience.

1.23 Is your wool made from slag?

The composition of the raw material charge for the production of our products is chosen in such a way that the melt intended for the production of mineral fiber contains up to 75-80% natural stone basalt group, the remaining 20-25% - corrective (modifying) additives to improve the quality of the fiber and give the necessary properties to the finished material.

Slag is considered to be products, the raw material for the production of which is slag, which is a waste of metallurgical plants. Our products are made from solid stone. The quality of such products is always on top.

1.24 Why is stone wool better than glass wool?

The basis of all the valuable qualities of thermal insulation based on stone wool is the structure of the material. The chaotically woven arrangement of the fibers provides high rigidity of the products and their high resistance to mechanical stress. The material does not slip under its own weight and does not decrease in thickness over time.

The second important property of stone wool is hydrophobicity. The fibers of the material are treated with a special water-repellent composition, which allows water to roll off the surface of the insulation.

The third advantageous property of stone wool is incombustibility (NG). The sintering temperature of glass wool fibers is about 500°C, which is reached in a standard fire in 7 minutes, while stone wool fibers begin to sinter at a temperature of 1000-1200°C, and this temperature is reached in 2 hours of a standard fire. Thus, using stone wool, you get additional time for evacuation in case of fire.

1.25 Why can TECHNONICOL boards be different in color?

The color of the product plates is determined mainly by two parameters: the initial composition of the raw materials of the charge and the modes of heat treatment of the mineral wool carpet on the production line. Color deviations have nothing to do with operational characteristics products, after installation work, all differences will be hidden by subsequent finishing.

1.26 What is the thermal conductivity of a material?

Thermal conductivity - the property of a material to transfer heat through its thickness from one surface to another if these surfaces have different temperatures (heat transfer through 1 m3 of material with a temperature difference of 1 ° C).

1.27 What is the density of a material?

Density is a scalar value measured for homogeneous bodies by the ratio of body mass to its volume.

In construction, the average and true density of the material is distinguished. It should be understood that when choosing a material for a particular application, density is not the main characteristic.

So, for facade systems with a thin plaster layer, the main characteristic is the peel strength of the layers, since the plaster layer is applied directly to the insulation.