How to choose mineral wool for insulation

Recommendation points

• Varieties of mineral wool
• Slag wool (slag wool)
• Glass wool (glass wool)
• Stone wool
• What is insulated with mineral wool and why
• What to look for when choosing

What you need to know when choosing a mineral wool insulation? How to choose the right slabs or mats for insulating structures? What are modern products made of? You will find answers to these and many other questions in our article. We will help you decide on the choice of the most popular insulation.

Mineral wool (mineral wool) is a general designation of the category of insulation obtained by blowing fibers from a red-hot solid (stone) material. In total, there are three types of this insulation – slag, glass and stone wool. We will tell you about the features of each of them.

Varieties of mineral wool

Slag wool (slag wool)

Blast furnace slag is used as raw material. It has the smallest particle size due to production technology and the chemical composition of raw materials. In this regard, the products – mats and plates – are obtained with the lowest stiffness, up to 0.015 MPa (in compression). At the same time, the properties of thermal conductivity are not inferior to other types of insulation. The inconvenience of working with slag materials limits the range of consumers, since ease of installation is one of the priorities for choosing private developers and repairmen who sometimes do the work with their own hands.

Slag wool is mainly used at industrial facilities – pipelines, factories, mines, steel-making plants, etc. Slag wool is used to insulate horizontal surfaces or planes with a slight slope. In the overwhelming majority of cases, it is used at industrial facilities, where it is possible to hire highly paid specialists and provide them with PPE..

The cost of slag wool is determined by each individual enterprise.

Glass wool (glass wool)

Manufactured from molten glass (waste) or rocks with a high silicon content (silicates). A feature of this material against the background of others is a relatively long particle – from 0.5 to 3 mm. This gives glass wool two features:

1. The best fiber adhesion to each other. The mat or slab has a greater stiffness in relation to density compared to “classmates” (other types of mineral wool). This means that in order to achieve similar hardness indicators, glass wool needs less raw materials, while it will be lighter.
2. Glass particles have the appearance (under a microscope) of rods with pointed ends. These particles irritate the skin and respiratory system during work..

The combination of properties leads to the conclusion that the material has good performance properties, but requires the use of personal protective equipment (PPE) during operation.

Glass wool price

Name	Manufacturer	Size, mm	Package volume, m3	Unit price, cu e.	Price 1 m3, at. e.
KNAUF COTTAGE Thermo Roll-037	KNAUF, Germany / Russia	12300x1220x50	0.75	29.5	39.3
URSA Glasswool M 11	URSA, Spain / Russia	7000х1220х100	0.84	thirty	35,7
ISOVER KT-40-TWIN50	ISOVER, France / Russia	8000х1250х50	0.5	17	34
PHOENIX GLASS WOOL	Phoenix, Russia	14000х1200х50	0.84	22.5	26.8

Stone wool

It is made from igneous rocks (most often basalt). It has the most successful combination of slag and glass wool properties:

1. The average particle size (0.3–1.5 mm) ensures sufficient compressive stiffness of the slab (up to 0.035 MPa). This allows the production of panels for vertical insulation, which can be temporarily mounted without additional supporting elements *.
2. Refractory substances in the composition of raw materials do not allow the fibers to take a pointed shape. This makes it safe and relatively comfortable to work with. The manufacturer always recommends the use of PPE, but in practice, with a small one-time amount of insulation, this is not necessary.
3. Raw materials – basalt, rock – are thermally prepared for the production of cotton wool in a natural (natural) way, during a volcanic eruption. This somewhat reduces energy consumption in the manufacture of cotton wool.

Stone wool has gained great popularity due to the small amount of ingredients (basalt or dolomite plus additives), which means a simpler production technology.

The first two types account for about 20% of the total retail sales, since they are less convenient and appropriate in private construction. Moreover, their usefulness is manifested in the fact that the raw material is the waste of heavy industry and the national economy – blast furnace slag and cullet. Most of the slag wool products are made to order for specific enterprises. Stone wool and glass wool are produced and sold in large quantities due to their “soft” properties and versatile field of application..

Stone wool prices

Brand	Manufacturer	Size, mm	Package volume, m3	Unit price, cu e.	Price 1 m3, at. e.
“TechnoNicol ROCKLIGHT” (mat / roll)	Russia	1000x600x50	0.43	12.3	28.5
“TechnoNicol ROCKLIGHT” (plate)	Russia	1200x600x50	0.43	12.7	29.5
“TechnoNICOL 40”	Russia	4000x1200x50	0.48	13	27
ROCKWOOL LIGHT BATTS	Denmark / Russia	1000x600x100	0.3	9,7	32.5
ROCKWOOL ACOUSTIC BATTS	Denmark / Russia	1000x600x50	0.3	9.3	31
ISOROC ISOLIGHT-L	Russia	1000x600x50	0.24	5.8	24.5
URSA P-20-U24	Spain / Russia	1250x600x50	0.9	32.8	36.5
URSA GeoM-11 F (foil)	Spain / Russia	9000/1200/100	1.08	47.5	44
Hitrock P-75 LITE	Russia	1000x600x50	0.24	6,3	26.5
Hitrock P-75	Russia	1000x600x50	0.27	6.5	24
Isover Classic-Twin-50	France / Russia	6150x1200x50	0.37	10.5	28.5
IZOBEL PL-75	Russia	1000x600x50	0.24	4.9	20.5
“ISOLIGHT-L”	Russia	1000x600x150	0.27	6	22.5
IZOVOL CT-50	Russia	1000x600x50	0.3	7.8	26

What is insulated with mineral wool and why

The combination of valuable properties of mineral wool makes it applicable and in demand in most cases of thermal insulation:

1. The complete absence of organic matter in the composition gives an unlimited service life.
2. The fibrous structure of the material ensures the unimpeded release of excess moisture-saturated vapors. This is called “breathable insulation”.

Vapor permeability is especially important in wood and stone structures, since the material retains most of its natural properties, one of which is air circulation.

For many, it is a concern that supposedly mineral wool quickly cakes and loses its properties.

The effect of clumping of cotton insulation does take place, but this process is greatly extended over time. Caking occurs due to the compaction of the fibrous material and the release of air from it. This happens due to vibration, changes in humidity and temperature. Air changes the volume and at the same time the volume of the insulation fluctuates.

It should be noted that less dense mats are susceptible to such deformations than rigid slabs, which remain stable despite external factors. Therefore, their field of application differs significantly. External barriers (walls, roof) are more prone to clumping. You can avoid this by choosing the right brand of cotton wool in terms of density. How to do this, read our article.

What to look for when choosing

When choosing a heater, you should be especially careful not to purchase a low-quality product. There are general points that need to be checked:

1. Place and order of storage. Storage of mineral wool in its original packaging is allowed by the manufacturer. 90% of products are packed with shrink wrap. If cotton wool is exposed on the sides, make sure that they are covered. Ideal for storage – canopy.
2. Minvata packed in cardboard boxes (expensive types of fireplace insulation, foil plates) should be stored in a place inaccessible to moisture.
3. In no case do not purchase soaked cotton wool – after drying it is unusable.
4. With a certain accuracy, you can use the remains and trimming of cotton wool for insulation. Fitted tightly without bumps or wrinkles, it will work like a whole. However, it is undesirable to use cotton of different density in one insulating barrier. For sound insulation – you can.
5. Choose from 5 of the most famous brands. Prices for their products differ slightly, but the quality is always at a good level. Preference should be given to the plant that is closer to you than the rest – less transportation costs will be included in the price.

Mineral wool is a modern and technologically advanced insulation material, without which no construction site can do. At the same time, the material is safe for humans and the environment during operation and even in case of fire (non-combustible). Mineral wool insulation is a quick and convenient way to insulate buildings.