Materials library

Industrial insulation materials — 12 datasheets with λ(T)

Every material below carries its temperature-dependent conductivity, service limit, density, governing standards, honest strengths/limits, and a computed heat-loss table. λ values are typical published datasheet figures — verify the specific product before design.

Inzonex Engineering Learning

Compare materials without stripping away context

A low conductivity value is useful only when temperature, test geometry, density and service conditions are comparable. Use this three-step worksheet before relying on the summary table.

Set the dutyRecord hot-face, ambient and mean temperature plus geometry and thickness.

Screen non-thermal requirementsCheck moisture, fire, mechanical load, jacketing and maintenance access before ranking conductivity.

Trace the numberOpen the named-product source row and verify the current document for the exact grade.

Download 67 source points JSON Use selector Open comparisons

Checked thermal conductivity points grouped by named industrial insulation product — Use the chart to find comparable source rows, not to declare a universal winner. Product coverage and known gaps are documented in the data lab.

Material	Max service	λ low-T	λ high-T	Density kg/m³
Stone wool (mineral wool)	640 °C	0.036 @ 10 °C	0.121 @ 400 °C	80–150
Glass wool	450 °C	0.033 @ 10 °C	0.074 @ 250 °C	24–80
Ceramic fibre (RCF / AES blanket)	1200 °C	0.060 @ 200 °C	0.220 @ 800 °C	96–128
Aerogel blanket	650 °C	0.020 @ 0 °C	0.055 @ 400 °C	160–200
Calcium silicate	650 °C	0.055 @ 50 °C	0.104 @ 400 °C	220–260
Expanded perlite	650 °C	0.060 @ 50 °C	0.092 @ 300 °C	180–220
Cellular glass	430 °C	0.038 @ -50 °C	0.068 @ 200 °C	100–165
Microporous (fumed-silica) panels	1000 °C	0.022 @ 100 °C	0.040 @ 800 °C	220–320
Elastomeric foam (FEF)	150 °C	0.034 @ -20 °C	0.040 @ 40 °C	40–80
PIR / PUR rigid foam	140 °C	0.023 @ -30 °C	0.028 @ 50 °C	30–50
E-glass needle mat	550 °C	0.045 @ 100 °C	0.095 @ 400 °C	120–160
Silica needle mat / fabric	1000 °C	0.055 @ 200 °C	0.110 @ 600 °C	130–180

λ at mean temperature. Click through for the full curve and computed performance.

Same pipe, every material

The level playing field — DN100 at 250 °C, 50 mm

Material	λ W/m·K	Loss W/m	Surface	Saving €/m·yr	t CO2/m·yr
Stone wool (mineral wool)	0.052	112	37 °C	€348	1.3
Glass wool	0.050	106	36 °C	€351	1.3
Ceramic fibre (RCF / AES blanket)	0.060	127	39 °C	€341	1.2
Aerogel blanket	0.027	61	29 °C	€373	1.4
Calcium silicate	0.067	139	41 °C	€335	1.2
Expanded perlite	0.070	145	42 °C	€332	1.2
Cellular glass	0.058	122	38 °C	€343	1.3
Microporous (fumed-silica) panels	0.023	50	27 °C	€378	1.4
E-glass needle mat	0.050	106	36 °C	€351	1.3
Silica needle mat / fabric	0.055	117	37 °C	€346	1.3

DN100 pipe at 250 °C, 50 mm insulation, per metre of pipe; bare loss 826 W/m. λ at mean temperature; € and CO2 per metre·year at €0.05/kWh, 8000 h, 82% efficiency. Method: ASTM C680 simplified (h=10).

At 100 °C: see the full data-table library for every temperature.

FAQ

Questions on this topic

Which insulation material has the lowest thermal conductivity?

At ambient: aerogel blanket (λ≈0.020 W/m·K) and microporous panels (≈0.022). At 400–800 °C microporous wins outright — its λ stays below still air. For everyday hot work, stone wool's 0.04–0.12 across its range is the cost-performance reference everything else is judged against.

What insulation material handles the highest temperature?

Ceramic fibre (RCF/AES) blankets serve to 1200 °C, silica textiles and microporous to ~1000 °C, stone wool to ~640 °C, glass wool to ~450 °C, cellular glass to 430 °C, and the organics (elastomeric, PIR) stop around 110–150 °C.

Why does thermal conductivity rise with temperature?

Radiation across the pores grows with T³ and gas conduction increases too — so a material specified at its 10 °C lambda performs far worse at steam temperatures. Always design with λ at the MEAN of hot-face and ambient — the difference is 2–3× for fibrous materials. Every table on this site does exactly that.

Inzonex: Some materials in this database are rated to 1000 °C or above. Standard Inzonex projects usually address duties up to +600 °C; the allowable temperature of the complete engineered assembly must be confirmed for the specific application.