Construction insulation materials. Insulation of a private house

The modern construction market offers many beautiful, durable, environmentally friendly finishing materials. Nowadays, thanks to new technologies, it is possible to realize almost any fantasy in terms of repair or design work. But as for the economics of maintaining a home, it also needs to be carefully calculated.

Unfortunately, not every material, even the most beautiful or unusual, is capable of retaining heat well in a room. Therefore, often the issue of wall insulation at the time of repair has to be raised quite often. And even without planning repair work, insulation is a hot topic for our country.

There are various types of insulation materials on the shelves of construction hypermarkets. Puzzled by the choice of this material, every unprepared buyer will probably be confused when he sees what a huge assortment the manufacturers offer us! Therefore, before you go shopping, let's figure out what kind of insulation is needed in each specific case and how to choose it correctly.

Insulation will bring several important advantages not only to your budget, but also to the quality of your home - this is clear even without special calculations. Some homeowners find it convenient to install insulation indoors, however, this is not entirely convenient: firstly, it reduces living space, secondly, it does not allow the heat inside the room to warm up the walls and thus maintains dampness inside the building.

Therefore, it is definitely necessary to insulate the walls outside the house - it does not matter whether it is a detached household or an apartment. Properly selected and laid insulation allows the room to warm up evenly thanks to free circulation warm air. The outer layer of insulation retains heat and allows the walls to remain dry, which means it prevents their destruction.

As an additional bonus from the insulation, there is also soundproofing of the room, this important property, especially if the housing is located near a highway or a busy part of the city.

As for the aesthetics of finishing walls with insulation, modern finishing materials are perfectly adapted to implement various design solutions.

What types of wall insulation are there?

Conventionally, insulation materials can be divided into 2 types: organic and inorganic. What it is?

Organic insulation

These are materials that are produced from raw materials from natural components. They do not contain synthetic ingredients. Some organic materials contain cement and plastic.

Organic insulation materials are easy to use because they do not get wet, are not prone to fire, and are not susceptible to fungus, mold, or any bacteria. It is convenient to use organics as internal insulation or in multilayer structures, in the form of the first, inner layer.

There are quite a few examples of insulation materials of organic origin:

1. Arbolite insulation– made on the basis of cement and kaolin. Additionally, it contains heat-saving substances - straw, sawdust, shavings, etc.
2. Polyvinyl chloride foam insulation– based on polyvinyl chloride resins. The technology of its production is such that the resins acquire a porous structure; it can be hard or soft, and, accordingly, has a wide range of uses.
3. Chipboard. Insulation based on wood chips, to which resins and antiseptics are added.
4. Polyurethane foam is a new generation heat insulator. It is made on the basis of polyester through a complex chemical reaction. It has excellent insulating properties and is not afraid of moisture, pests and temperature changes.
5. Penoizol, also called mipora. Material based on a natural emulsion of urea-formaldehyde resin. Mipora universal material, it is sold in dry form, in the form of blocks. If necessary, it can also be used in liquid form, poured into specially prepared containers, where it hardens over time.
6. Expanded polystyrene, or, more simply, polystyrene foam.
7. Foamed polyethylene. It is obtained by adding special foaming additives to the liquid polyethylene mass. The result is a material with a large number of pores - which allows it to retain heat well and provide sound insulation.
8. Fibrolite. A completely organic material consisting of fine wood shavings. Cement or magnesite is used as a binder. The material holds up well wet conditions operation and can be used for insulation of saunas, swimming pools and similar premises.
9. Sotoplast. Unusual modern type insulation. Its porous structure consists of cells that visually resemble a honeycomb - hence its name. It consists of cellulose or fabric fibers, in a film shell, outer part Each panel is made of soft plastic.
10. Ecowool. Made from waste from cardboard or book production. The basis for it is scrap or second grade cellulose cardboard or paper. It is also possible to produce from waste paper, however, the quality in this case will be much lower.

Inorganic insulation materials

Made from minerals, slag, asbestos or glass. These materials have been known to everyone for many years - glass wool, cellular concrete, foam glass and the like. They showed their operational properties, work at any temperature, suitable for any design.

Inorganic insulation materials are available for sale in a variety of forms: wool, panels, slabs, rolls, and even loose. This is an additional plus, since it is possible to choose the most convenient installation method.

There are also quite a few varieties of inorganic heat insulators:

Probably the most common insulation. Can be made from slag waste from steel production or rocks. Based on the type of raw material from which it is made, mineral wool is divided into two types: stone and slag.

The process of its production is almost identical to glass production, although glass production waste is often used for production. It differs from mineral wool in its structure and properties.

3. Ceramic wool. It is made on the basis of silicon, aluminum or zirconium oxides. High temperature conditions and a centrifuge are used for production. Ceramic wool is practically not subject to deformation, does not burn and has excellent heat and sound insulation properties.

Reflective Thermal Insulators

As you know, classic insulation acts directionally - they slow down the process of heat passage. That is, from a heated room, be it a residential building or a public building, heat goes outside. If you conduct a study of infrared radiation, you will see rays, especially strong radiation where Construction Materials They transmit heat well. Therefore, trying to insulate a room, it is sheathed with various types of insulation that retains heat or prevents the free passage of infrared rays.

However, there is another approach to increasing the thermal insulation of buildings. This is the use of materials that reflect heat. The most popular among these is aluminium foil , its surface is capable of reflecting up to 97% of the heat falling on it.

At the same time, aluminum foil is laid in one or two layers, which are subsequently covered with a layer of polyethylene - such covering is very thin and takes up practically no space. And in terms of its thermal insulation it can compete with the most high-quality insulation, retaining heat. In addition, it is also an excellent vapor barrier material, therefore, for buildings with high humidity - saunas, baths - such thermal insulation will be a godsend. In other cases it is best to consider it as auxiliary material, for example for finishing walls and ceilings indoors.

Choosing insulation for walls

Among the huge range of insulation materials, it can be difficult to choose just one. Let's look at the most common heat insulators:

For many years it has been used as insulation at all kinds of private and industrial facilities. It can be made from stone or basalt raw materials, which gives it fire resistance and fire safety. Modern ones are made from volcanic fossils using special equipment, reaching high temperatures. It has a specific porous structure, which determines its main advantages:

1. Excellent thermal insulation of the room. Thanks to its fibrous structure, mineral wool retains the temperature inside the building well; in winter the house will remain warm, and in summer it will be cool.
2. Soundproofing. Also, due to the random structure of cotton wool fibers, it is capable of retaining at least 50% of sound vibrations passing through it.
3. Wear resistance. Made from volcanic rocks, mineral wool is not prone to destruction and can last long time without needing replacement.
4. Tightness. Provided that the correct technology for laying mineral wool is followed, this type of thermal insulation can maintain the tightness of the coating for many years.
5. Mineral wool environmentally safe for health.

Laying this type of insulation is not particularly difficult, but, as already mentioned, it is important to observe correct sequence operations:

1. Preparing the wall. Clear from old decoration, dirt, putty cracks and chips.
2. Laying a vapor-permeable membrane. This needs to be done directly on the wall, in one layer.
3. Installation of a frame from wooden planks or metal profiles.
4. Laying mineral wool. It is usually sold in sheets of various sizes.
5. Cover the layer of cotton wool with another layer of film.
6. Façade cladding with finishing material. Usually in this case it would be correct to install a ventilated façade.
7. Installation of slopes, window sills. The old ones will have to be replaced due to a significant increase in the thickness of the walls.

Styrofoam

Polystyrene foam, or its more modern analogue - polystyrene, is a very popular material for external insulation of a building. This is a common type of organic insulation, consisting of 90% air, the remaining ten percent are substances produced from petroleum products. At their core, these are medium and small air bubbles enclosed in a polystyrene shell.

Advantages:

1. Low cost. Sheathing a house with polystyrene foam is available to anyone.
2. Excellent retention of heat indoors.
3. It is not afraid of moisture, dampness and temperature fluctuations.
4. Good soundproofing material.
5. Suitable for various types of exterior, it can be either plastered or covered with wall panels.

Flaws:

1. Small mammals love polystyrene foam. Rodents make their burrows in it - it’s easy and convenient for them. To avoid such incidents, foam wall coverings must be immediately covered with a top, decorative layer. Moreover, this must be done efficiently, without leaving gaps.
2. Foam styrene is not a flammable material, however, when exposed to open fire, it will catch fire. This disadvantage is not significant, since this insulation is capable of self-extinguishing in the absence of strong gusts of wind.

The process of attaching polystyrene foam is not particularly complicated; you can insulate a house with it yourself, without involving specialists. The sequence of actions is as follows:

1. Prepare the walls. Preparation includes standard cleaning of dust, dirt and old finishes. If there are large cracks or potholes, it is necessary to take measures to eliminate them.
2. Set up a starting profile. In general, such a procedure is not necessary, but this measure will guarantee accurate alignment of the cladding over the entire area of ​​the facade. Starting from the starting profile, your work will be much faster and easier.
3. Prepare foam sheets as necessary: we are talking about dimensions, that is, if there are windows, doors, or other elements on the wall that are not planned to be insulated, then you need to cut them taking into account these objects. Cutting it is not difficult using a construction knife or even an ordinary knife of a suitable size.
4. Apply special glue to the foam. This can be done with a spatula, following a certain application pattern: it is important to coat well not only the corners and perimeter of each plate, but also the ends, which will subsequently join with the adjacent ends of the material.
5. Additionally, secure the foam panels with dowel fasteners. Recommended consumption of fasteners: at least five pieces per sheet.
6. Application of a reinforcing layer. This is, as a rule, a synthetic mesh that is attached using adhesive or cement mortar directly to the foam. This measure will strengthen the insulating layer and prevent it from settling or destruction.
7. Finishing work. This type of cladding is most suitable for plaster, followed by the application of textures – “”, “lamb”, and other relief coatings that will fit well on the foam insulation.

Polyurethane foam

This material is a kind of plastic, 90% of its structure is in a gaseous state. The structure is porous, with pronounced cells. In modern industry, it is successfully used not only as insulation for facades, but also as a seat filler in sofas, armchairs and the like. Visually and tactilely it looks like an ordinary one.

This material used as insulation due to the following positive characteristics:

1. Good thermal insulation.
2. It also works as a noise absorber.
3. Not exposed to aggressive chemicals.
4. Practically does not absorb moisture and does not dampen.
5. Environmentally friendly.
6. Long service life - up to thirty years.

Why is this material bad as insulation:

1. Due to its soft surface, polyurethane foam is not suitable for finishing. Can only be used under panels.
2. This insulation is fire hazardous, and moreover, when ignited, it is capable of releasing substances that are dangerous to human life.

For laying polyurethane foam on walls, machine application of polyurethane foam is also used.

Penoplex

This material is also called. This type of insulation is relatively new, developed not so long ago, and therefore fully takes into account modern needs for thermal insulation of housing. Penoplex has a porous structure, which determines its main positive characteristics: high heat resistance, lightness, and accessibility to subsequent processing.

It actually has a lot of advantages:

1. High thermal insulation performance. Has the highest thermal insulation characteristics of all popular materials,
2. Wear-resistant. Withstands moderate loads,
3. Durable. The service life of penoplex insulation is forty years or more,
4. Does not attract rodents and other pests, not prone to the formation of fungus or mold,
5. Easy. This circumstance makes it possible to work with it independently, without hiring professional builders, and even one person can perform installation work.

This type of polystyrene has shown itself to be excellent in use both for private households and for insulating public buildings.

Among the disadvantages, you need to remember:

1. Flammability. Penoplex is not a fire-resistant material and for fire-fighting purposes, it is necessary to apply protective measures.
2. Quite a high cost.

As for the price, given the characteristics of the material and its service life, its cost is completely worth it and justified.

The installation of penoplex is identical to the installation of foam panels; it is also mounted on special polymer adhesive compositions– please note – they must be without acetone. But in addition to glue, of course, it is advisable to secure the insulation with anchor fasteners in order to avoid annoying troubles after some time.

Extruded polystyrene lends itself perfectly to decoration, it can be plastered, and reliefs of a wide variety of structures can be created.

Manufacturers

Due to the constantly increasing demand for thermal insulation materials, along with the import of imported materials - European, less often American, produced, domestic manufacturers began to expand and develop. Today, both European and Russian brands are present on the shelves of construction hypermarkets. Here are the most popular ones:

Ursa– one of the leaders in this field of building materials. This is a subsidiary of the large Spanish concern Uralita. In fact, Ursa insulation products are regularly supplied to both the Russian and European markets, where they are also very popular.

Thermal insulation of this brand is produced in different variations, but the most popular type is small insulation slabs or mats. They are convenient to use for installing ventilated building facades, insulating roofs, floors, and partitions. But it is also possible to insulate heating mains and high-rise buildings for private and industrial purposes.

• Armacell

Well-known manufacturer of insulation materials from Germany. Insulation materials of this brand are known for the fact that they are produced by foaming synthetic raw materials based on rubber. This method is patented by Armacell and any other materials of similar design are analogues or replicas of this type of insulation. The modern Russian insulation market has several standard types of Armacell insulation. They are, in particular, convenient to use for heating systems, refrigerators, ventilation shafts, as well as standard systems heating with not too high heating temperatures.

• Partex

A well-known Finnish company in the world construction markets, its production facilities are located in the cities of Poland, Lithuania and Finland. On Russian market This brand is represented under the Paroc brand - on its basis there is a wide range of stone wool insulation materials. This heat insulator is available in the form of slabs, mats and rolls of soft and rigid construction.

This insulation is popular among private buyers; it is convenient to sheathe detached households and multi-storey residential buildings with it. The properties of Paros thermal insulators: high vapor permeability, excellent thermal insulation properties, durability and lack of deformation, make this material convenient and universal for use in civil construction.

• Isover

The widely known Finnish brand is actually a subsidiary of a large French concern. Their insulation is made on the basis of fiberglass, widespread both in Europe and in Russia and has remained popular for many years.

• Rolls Isomarket

One of the largest domestic companies producing insulation materials. Founded in 1994, since then it has been actively developing and mastering new technologies. Under the Energoflex brand, this manufacturer offers on the Russian market a wide range of various insulation materials based on polyethylene foam.

• JSC "Chemical Plant"

Is in Sverdlovsk region, also large Russian manufacturer. The Extrapen brand, produced by this plant from polystyrene foam raw materials, confidently occupies its niche among the thermal insulation materials presented on the Russian construction market.

Video: the best way to insulate walls

Insulation of walls is an important stage, it should not be missed or done poorly. The benefits of properly insulated walls are obvious: you will protect the inside of the house from condensation and freezing, retain heat inside the room, significantly saving energy resources. Nowadays, insulation is not an unnecessary precaution, but right choice for any home, no matter what it is built of or how well it is heated.

Modern building materials allow you to select insulation to match any finish, hide it securely, leaving the façade of the building visually attractive. It is also important that to comply the right technology Laying insulation is not difficult, even if you do it yourself. Thus, you can significantly save on construction work without involving professionals for cladding.

Insulation materials serve for a long time without needing replacement; one day, you will forget about heat loss for many years to come. Take care of your home by installing good thermal insulation!

High-quality home insulation will not only make the building more comfortable to live in and reduce heating costs, but will also help extend the life of other building materials, preventing their premature deterioration due to freezing. At the same time, it is important to choose the right insulation: only if this condition is met, the thermal insulation of the house will be reliable and effective.

How to choose insulation

When choosing insulation for a home, take into account the following basic factors:

• type of thermally insulated structure: walls (external or internal), roof, ceiling, base, facade, balcony, etc.;
• features of the insulated structure: for walls - material of manufacture, thickness, for roofing - its type, for floors and facades - the type of finishing materials that will be laid on the insulation;
• technical requirements: home insulation must be environmentally friendly. In some cases, conditions are also put forward in terms of fire safety, vapor permeability, low weight, etc.

The budget allocated for thermal insulation work. It is natural that every buyer strives to save money. But when choosing insulation, you should still not give preference to cheap materials of dubious quality and without specialized certificates. Their use can lead to ineffectiveness and/or fragility of the thermal insulation of the house, and consequently to additional costs associated with replacing the insulation in the near future.

Pay attention to the thermal conductivity of the material. The lower this value, the greater the thermal insulation performance of the home insulation. The level of thermal insulation is also affected by the thickness of the material.

Another important factor choosing insulation - the method of its installation. Depending on the type of material and the form of its release, this may be:

• laying with fastening, gluing - for mats, slabs;
• spraying - for sprayed polyurethane foam and other similar materials;
• application with painting tools - for liquid formulations;
• pouring - for expanded clay and other similar materials.

The choice of application method often depends on the type of structure. For example, it is convenient to fill the attic with expanded clay and cover the walls with mats.

Popular home insulation materials

Mineral wool (basalt). The material is made from molten rocks, blast furnace slag and consists of many microfibers. The advantages of such insulation are its durability, which is due to mechanical strength, resistant to mold and moisture, and also non-flammable. Mineral wool is often used for external insulation (ventilated, plaster facades), thermal insulation flat roof, walls and pipelines. When choosing such insulation for your home, pay attention to the composition. It is not advisable to use materials with phenol-formaldehyde resins as a binder in residential premises.

Fiberglass. This is a type of mineral wool consisting of glass fibers. The advantage of the material is increased chemical resistance, strength and elasticity. The main disadvantage of this insulation is the significant fragility of the fibers. Broken glass wool microfragments cause skin irritation, are dangerous if they get into the eyes, and are difficult to remove from clothing.

Expanded polystyrene (foam). This is a synthetic insulation for the home, which combines extremely affordable cost with good thermal insulation properties, which determines its popularity. 98% of this material consists of air in closed cells, which is related to its effectiveness in terms of insulation. Among the advantages can also be noted hygroscopicity, light weight, preservation of its thermal insulation properties in any climatic zone. Disadvantages: low strength, ability to oxidize in air, release of harmful substances when heated.

Spray polyurethane foam. This is one of the modern insulation materials that appeared on the market relatively recently. The material is a plastic with a foamy cellular structure. It is characterized by elasticity, breathability, good noise-absorbing properties, chemical resistance, and low moisture absorption. Application by spraying makes it possible to create a high-quality thermal insulation layer even on structures with complex configurations. Disadvantages are high price, sensitivity to ultraviolet light and the ability to degrade due to exposure to high temperatures.

Ecowool. Such home insulation is made from recycled cellulose (more than 80%) and additional additives (antiseptics and fire retardants, usually boric acid and sodium tetraborate are used for these purposes, respectively). The material is considered environmentally friendly. If ventilation is possible, ecowool can be used in damp rooms (for the home these are basements, plinths, bathrooms), including those in which condensation may form on surfaces. The disadvantages of the material are a decrease in volume during operation (usually by 20%) and fragility of properties (over time thermal insulation characteristics decrease).

Penoizol. This material is liquid foam, produced in cylinders. The foam substance fills well the cracks and gaps in the structure, which provides reliable thermal insulation. No need to perform preliminary preparation surface, there are no seams. Penoizol is produced on the basis of a polymer resin, into which various additives are added. Foam insulation insulation for residential and non-residential premises. The former have a more environmentally friendly composition (usually they are made on the basis of urea-formaldehyde resins), the latter often have better performance indicators, although they are not environmentally friendly. After hardening, the foam insulation layer has good vapor permeability, which ensures a normal microclimate in the room. But such insulation can temporarily emit an unpleasant odor, is highly hygroscopic and exhibits linear shrinkage.

Polyester fiber. Environmentally friendly insulation for the home. Does not contain glue and does not smell. The fibers do not break during installation and do not generate dust. The advantages of the material also include biological stability and minimal water absorption. It is not recommended to lay polyester fiber on areas that are under constant pressure.

Floor insulation

Up to 20% of heat loss occurs through the floor (for comparison: up to 30% is lost through windows and doors). Insulation placed underneath will help reduce heat loss. decorative coating. Most often used for floors following materials:

• foamed materials (foam plastic, expanded polystyrene, etc.) with one foil side;
• wood materials (plywood, fiberboard, sawdust, cork insulation);
• mineral wool.

When choosing, you need to consider:

• load on the floor. The insulation should not be deformed under its influence;
• requirements for vapor permeability, hygroscopicity, noise insulation and fire safety.

The latter requirements are usually determined by the type of flooring material and the conditions of use. For example, waterproof foam is suitable for concrete, but is not suitable for wooden floors. Glass wool dampens noise well, but due to its high moisture absorption it is not suitable for use in damp rooms.

Types of wall insulation

First of all, it matters where exactly the insulation will be used.

• Outside the building. It is important that the material is resistant to atmospheric factors, including high humidity and temperature changes. For external work, polystyrene foam, basalt insulation, thermal insulation plaster.
• Inside the building. The environmental friendliness of the material is of paramount importance. In some cases, there is also a requirement for a small thickness so that the insulation layer does not greatly reduce the interior space of the premises. You can use mineral wool, expanded polystyrene (foam), polyester fiber.

It is also necessary to analyze the compatibility of thermal insulation materials with wall and finishing materials: the insulation must be well attached to them.

Ceiling insulation

Ceiling insulation can be:

• top - the insulation is laid, poured or glued in the attic;
• lower (internal) - the material is glued to the ceiling from inside the room.

Most often, mineral wool, polystyrene foam, and foil polyethylene foam are used to insulate the ceiling. The choice depends on the installation method and technical requirements for thermal insulation.

Conclusion

Due to the large range of thermal insulation materials, many homeowners find it difficult to choose the right means for insulation, especially since each option has both advantages and disadvantages. In such cases, it is advisable to contact a company that sells thermal insulation materials. Experts will provide detailed advice on the characteristics of each insulation material and help you choose the best option, taking into account operating conditions, type of construction, and technical requirements for thermal insulation.

Wide selection of insulation materials for wooden houses, they can be used to insulate a house outside, and some even inside the house. What types are suitable for a frame house? Which is the best, let's look at their characteristics in this article! If carried out correctly, it will not be superfluous in any climatic conditions.

When it is done correctly, then under its “protection” the house will not only be warmer in winter, but also noticeably cooler in summer.

Installation of insulation will create a comfortable microclimate in a room for any purpose - in a residential building, office or production workshop.

In addition, saving heat means obvious financial savings. It is completely unreasonable to heat the street, given that the technologies used today provide an opportunity to save energy resources already at the initial stage of construction work. Most of all, those parts of the building that are most adjacent to the building require the use of insulation. external environment- , And .

The material produced in this way has excellent properties; moreover, it is not flammable and therefore does not pose a fire hazard. But a huge part of the wonderful qualities of insulation can be irretrievably lost when it gets wet. This should be taken into account.

Stone wool

Stone wool

This fibrous material, which goes on sale in the form of rolls and portioned slabs, and has an extremely low thermal conductivity.

The highest quality product is made from rocks called gabbro-basalt. This non-flammable material It is used with equal success in the construction of private facilities and the construction of various industrial facilities. The wide range of uses is also explained by the possibility of its use at extremely high temperatures, reaching one thousand degrees.

The insulation's complete immunity to fire is complemented by its excellent resistance to moisture. This is a hydrophobic material, the peculiarity of which is that it does not absorb water, but repels it.

This ensures that the insulation remains dry even after a long period of time. This, in turn, will allow her to maintain her high performance qualities. Unique properties basalt wool allow it to be used even in boiler rooms, baths and saunas, where high humidity and high temperature are combined. Strength in this case is not directly dependent on the density of the material.

It's pretty soft material, having at the same time a sufficient margin of safety. Its structural stability is determined by the special arrangement of the individual component fibers - chaotic and vertical. The material has high anti-corrosion properties.

It can coexist quite peacefully with concrete and metal, without the occurrence of various kinds of chemical reactions. High biological stability provides it with immunity to various biological pests: damage by insects and rodents, the occurrence of fungal diseases,

The basalt insulation passed the combustion test, but the organic insulation burned out

Basalt rock is the main raw material for production of this type cotton wool. Treatment with formaldehyde resins gives the material a sufficient level of strength, and the modern technologies used guarantee the complete elimination of harmful phenols at the stage of material production.

The final product reaching the consumer is a harmless and environmentally friendly material with high insulating qualities.

It is actively used for insulating floors of residential and production premises, for thermal insulation of roofs and facades, including as external insulation.

It has found wide application in rooms with extreme levels of humidity and temperature. The best basalt insulation, stone wool made from rocks, is the key to quality for a long time.

Glass wool

The missing 7% comes from specially added flame retardants. Insulation fibers contain lignin, which becomes sticky when humidity increases. All elements included in the insulation are non-toxic, absolutely non-volatile and harmless to health. Cellulose insulation is resistant to combustion and rotting, and has excellent sound and heat insulation properties.

Can hold approximately 20% humidity while maintaining its performance. The material releases moisture to the outside and dries quickly, maintaining all its performance qualities. The disadvantage of ecowool is the difficulty of manually applying it to the surface, as well as the impossibility of arranging a “floating floor” due to its inherent softness.

Penoizol

Another name for the material is urea foam. This modern material with high sound and heat insulating characteristics, which is a cheap insulation material. This is a cellular organic foam with particularly low density and low thermal conductivity. The material has high fire resistance, resistance to microorganisms, and a low price. It is easy to process, its air content reaches 90%.

Insulating the attic with foam insulation

The tests carried out demonstrated the capabilities of the material. It turned out that the time of its operation as the middle layer of the structure frame structure, actual is not limited by anything. Tests of its fire resistance showed that the material can be safely classified as low-flammable.

This is the only thermal insulation material of a polymer nature that is not at all suitable for self-combustion. Its fire resistance index places it in the G2 flammability subgroup.

Even if the highest temperature occurs during a fire, when the metal begins to melt, the carbide foam will simply evaporate, without releasing toxic or harmful substances.

Izokom

This is a special foil material (on both sides or only one). It is made of polyethylene foam fabric, covered on the outside with highly polished aluminum foil. This is a multilayer vapor-sound- and heat-insulating material that combines completely different qualities.

With a minimum thickness of the insulating layer, it provides excellent properties for reflecting heat flow, successfully combined with the highest (almost maximum) thermal resistance indicators. Correctly installed material is characterized exclusively by effective thermal insulation buildings along its entire contour.

It's harmless environmentally friendly material, which does not pose a threat to the ozone layer. It does not contain glass or other fibers that are unsafe for the health of people and animals.

Without changing its exceptional properties, it serves for about 50 years, without deforming or being damaged during all this time.

Installation is quite simple and very convenient: it does not require special equipment. Excellent protection against steam and moisture. It is used almost everywhere.

Modern thermal insulation has all the characteristics to protect our home. With the arrival of cold weather, every building and structure needs its own thermal insulation to provide a comfortable living space for the people living in it. It is very important to carry out the insulation process correctly for your private home so that it does not have dangerous “thermal bridges” that remove heat from you and can harm your home.

In this article, we will try to provide you with information about modern thermal insulation materials to help you choose the best one for your needs.

What's happened modern thermal insulation? This material should serve several functions, all of which relate to creating a comfortable and healthy atmosphere in your living space.

Requirements for modern thermal insulation

The main requirements for modern thermal insulation materials are:

1. Thermal conductivity. The best insulation materials should have the lowest thermal conductivity to reduce the overall heat transfer coefficient. Thus, less will be required insulating material. Gas is one of the best insulating materials. The insulating properties of commercially available insulation materials are determined by the amount of gas retained within the material and the number of gas pockets.

Therefore, the higher the number of cells (which can support gas stagnation) and the smaller their size, the lower the thermal conductivity of such an insulating material. Cells holding gas should not be connected to each other, as this leads to convection of heat. So, we need high thermal performance - than better material isolates from low temperatures winter and high temperatures in summer are better.

2. Vapor permeability moisture. The best modern insulation materials should have very low permeability to moisture. Thus, water absorption becomes negligible. Moisture condensation and corrosion are reduced to a minimum. Do not confuse moisture permeability with vapor permeability. High vapor permeability - allows you to easily remove excess moisture from the premises to avoid the appearance of fungus and mold.

3.Low weight modern thermal insulation - will provide you with cheap transportation and ease of operation; there will be no need to strengthen walls, foundations, etc.

4. Resistance/installation functions. The insulation material must be resistant to water, solvents and chemicals. It must be durable and not lose its insulating effectiveness over time. The material should allow a wide choice of adhesives for its installation. Modern thermal insulation material should be easy to install, light and easy to handle.

It is advisable for installation work You can use regular tools. Modern insulation must be economical, with significant savings in initial cost, and it must also provide savings in long-term effectiveness.

Modern thermal insulation is environmentally friendly and durable

5. Security features. The insulating material must be rated as non-flammable and non-explosive. Flammability - the lower the flammability of a material, the less additional investment will be required. In the event of ignition of insulating material, combustion products must not form toxic impurities. Modern thermal insulation is an environmentally friendly product; the material must be safe for human health.

6. Choice of finish– the material must be able to decorate; the more variety of finishes you can use, the better.

7. Durability – necessary condition for long-term operation of modern thermal insulation material.

8. Price– good materials cannot be cheap, we only need optimal ratio: price quality.

The most effective insulating materials:

• Expanded polystyrene;
• Extruded polystyrene foam;
• Basalt mineral wool;
• Laying density of aerated concrete;
• Penofol foil rolls;
• Ecowool;
• Foam glass;

Expanded polystyrene

The main advantage of thermal insulation boards when you are insulating with polystyrene foam is their small thickness. This material is suitable for any additional insulation and finishing measures without special preparation.

The advantages include the absence of reactions of polystyrene foam to soap compositions and mineral additives. Modern thermal insulation - polystyrene foam does not interact with bitumen mastics, cement mortars, lime, gypsum materials and asphalt emulsions. Resists aggressive attacks well groundwater, is not destroyed under their influence.

Modern thermal insulation polystyrene foam, this is the usual polystyrene foam

The guaranteed service life of this type of insulation is more than 25 years. It will always protect you from exposure ultraviolet radiation, foam plastics are very resistant to solar radiation.

Its only big drawback is that it is a highly flammable material. It is not recommended to insulate wooden houses with expanded polystyrene. In addition, you should avoid getting turpentine and acetone on polystyrene foam; many types of varnish, as well as drying oil, can completely dissolve this material. Expanded polystyrene also dissolves in all products created by oil distillation.

Extruded polystyrene foam

Modern thermal insulation - (XPS) consists of closed cells and provides improved surface roughness, higher rigidity and reduced thermal conductivity. If you like, extruded polystyrene foam is the older brother of expanded polystyrene.

Extruded foams are made by mixing polystyrene with a solvent, adding gas under pressure, and finally extruding the mixture to the desired thickness of the material. The extrusion process improves the characteristics of the final product.

Extruded polystyrene foam and the expanded polystyrene foam we have already discussed consist of the same substance, the difference is the technology for creating granules. As a result of the formation of independent pores during the extrusion process, mechanical resistance improves and the material becomes more homogeneous.

The material is inexpensive and has good thermal conductivity properties and characteristics. This type of insulation has a guaranteed lifespan of over 25 years, but tests have now shown that modern XPS insulation lasts up to 50 years.

Extruded polystyrene foam is highly flammable, so additional protection and ventilation must be provided. On the stage finishing works, any suitable material can be used, but when applying layers, for better adhesion, the XPS surface must be well prepared by creating roughness on it mechanically(scratch).

Mineral wool

Modern thermal insulation is quite expensive. It is not surprising that buyers’ demands for it are increased. Mineral wool has excellent vapor permeability and does not burn. Using this material, a so-called “protective” type of thermal insulation is created.

Thermal coating insulation is performed using fiber coverings. It's durable, lightweight material, made from alumina, zirconium and quartz ceramic fibers. Mineral wool has a high density, which ensures durability of more than 25 years. Another advantage is the possibility of finishing any types of building materials.

Modern thermal insulation aerated concrete

Super thick and heavy modern insulation, but it has good vapor permeability. This is a non-flammable material. It should also be noted that this material is structural and is a wall material. Aerated concrete will significantly reduce the relative cost of the share of thermal insulation in building construction. It is possible to use lightweight aerated concrete.

Modern thermal insulation is aerated concrete, easy to process with the usual tools.

Penofol foil rolls

Modern thermal insulation foil penofol. Thermal insulating film rolls (polyethylene foam with glued foil on one or both sides) have good heat resistance and weight. Quite an expensive material compared to other types of thermal insulation. A prominent representative of thermal insulation is the brand - cellular, foamed polyethylene foam.

Thermal insulation of building walls with film rolls makes the process even more expensive, since additional investments have to be made in ventilation systems and ventilation measures.

Modern thermal insulation foil-lined penofol.

The properties of this material (lack of adhesion of polymeric materials and cement) greatly limit the choice of finishes and reduce the range of applications where it can be used.

The presence of foil on both sides of this insulating material does not affect the thermal resistance of the walls, a slight improvement in thermal resistance is only observed in an enclosed air space, the effect of which is measured within the mathematical error. The material is rarely used in the layers of a building structure. This is mainly roof finishing.

Ecowool

Inexpensive and very practical modern thermal insulation. made from cellulose, so its main advantage is quite obvious - it is natural, very environmentally friendly pure material. Due to its friability and weak bearing capacity a wide choice of finishes is not possible. Ecowool can be diluted with water and poured into the brickwork (creating a so-called “well”) or sprayed into the frame frame structure using special equipment.

Modern thermal insulation of walls with ecowool.

The flammability of this material prohibits its use in mass construction. The guaranteed service life of this type of insulation is about 10-15 years.

Foam glass FOAMGLAS

Unique modern thermal insulation Foam glass FOAMGLAS®. Life time thermal insulation material is practically unlimited. Modern thermal insulation does not age. Saves physical properties throughout the entire life of the building. The exceptional insulation properties of FOAMGLAS® show effectiveness even in extreme conditions.

modern thermal insulation FOAMGLAS®

Foam glass is used as an insulating material and has the following advantages:

• high fire resistance;
• high resistance to microbiological attack;
• good resistance to most chemicals;
• high temperature resistance;
• available in a variety of presentations (eg blankets, mats, loose fill and slabs);
• low thermal conductivity.

modern fiberglass insulation available in rolls various thicknesses, also called blankets and mats. The width of blankets and mats will depend on how they need to be installed, and some face foil or kraft paper on one side to act as vapor barriers.

However, the main technical limitations of fiberglass as insulation are:

• poor structural strength or compressive strength;
• tendency to install after installation if not installed properly;
• its permeability to moisture.

Rigid panels can be made with compressed fiberglass. These lightweight insulating boards have relatively high values R for their thickness.

We hope this article has helped you in case you are looking for some information about modern insulation materials.