First, let’s establish that the general term “mineral wool insulation”, according to technical document GOST 52953-2008 “Thermal insulating materials and products. Terms and Definitions", refers to three types of materials used as insulation - stone wool, slag wool and glass wool:
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3.17 mineral wool: Thermal insulation material having a wool structure and made from melt rock, slag or glass.
3.17.1 glass wool: Mineral wool made from molten glass (glass wool).
3.17.2 rock wool: Mineral wool made primarily from molten igneous rocks (rock wool).
3.17.3 slag wool: Mineral wool made from molten blast furnace slag (slag wool).
Therefore, when the customer is faced with the question: basalt insulation or mineral wool - which is better, clarification is required. When using the terms “mineral wool”, as well as “mineral wool for wall insulation”, we will talk mainly about stone wool.
For comparison we present specifications three types of mineral wool:
You can see that stone wool has the best performance in almost all parameters.
The idea of producing heat-insulating materials from molten rocks arose back in the 19th century after observing the processes occurring during volcanic eruptions, when thin threads were formed from splashes of hot magma under the influence of wind. Such insulation as stone wool as a building material was first obtained from metallurgical waste products - blast furnace slag - at the turn of the 19th and 20th centuries, first in the USA, and then in Great Britain and Germany. However, these first experiments were not widely used on an industrial scale due to imperfect technology.
The greatest success in developing production methods and high quality materials was achieved in the 30s of the 20th century by specialists from a Danish company, which was the first to produce mineral wool boards for insulation. building structures and began to be called after the main type of product produced, Rockwool (literally “stone wool”). Since then, Rockwool has been producing basalt slabs for various types of insulation, is constantly expanding the range of produced materials and today has become one of the leaders among the world's best manufacturers of thermal insulation based on basalt wool.
In Russia, the products of the TechnoNIKOL company are very popular, a generally recognized domestic manufacturer of various building materials, which produces thermal insulation slabs made of mineral wool, which are in no way inferior in quality and range to Rockwool materials, so here we will take a detailed look at the production technology, varieties, properties and scope of application of stone wool produced by TechnoNIKOL.
The raw materials from which mineral wool insulation is made include the bulk of inorganic components - gabbro-basalt rocks with the addition of dolomite, as well as organic elements - phenol-formaldehyde resin, water repellent and dust remover.
First, inorganic components are mixed in the raw material preparation unit, weighed and in precisely defined quantities fed into a vertical coke oven-cupola furnace, where the mixture is melted at a temperature of 1600 °C. The molten mass enters a centrifuge consisting of several rotating rollers, where droplets of the molten stone mass are broken under the influence of centrifugal forces, stretching into thin threads, then, under the air flow, they enter the fiber deposition department, in which they are treated with an airborne mixture of organic elements - phenol-formaldehyde resins with water repellent and dust remover. The composition of the mixture was developed in its own research center, is the company’s know-how and is not subject to disclosure. The main effect of the development is that in one mixture it was possible to combine binding, water-repellent and dust-removing qualities.
Next, the mass of basalt fibers is supplied to a pendulum spreader and a corrugator-pre-presser, in which it is formed into a sheet of basalt mineral wool of a certain thickness, density and structure. In the corrugator-prepressor, the fibers are given different direction, which increases the elasticity of the material and tensile strength.
At the final stage of insulation formation, the fabric passes through a heat chamber, where the hardening process occurs at temperatures reaching 250°C binder mixture. After this, the finished material is cut at the cutting unit using circular saws into mats, where certain dimensions of the insulation are specified. Then the finished mats are packed in batches in shrink film and sent for sale.
Basalt slab as insulation, sound insulator and fire protection has many positive properties:
Stone wool has several disadvantages that can be easily eliminated by following certain methods of working with the material and its operating conditions:
Stone wool products, according to the requirements of two regulatory documents: GOST 21880-2011 “Mineral wool pierced thermal insulation mats” and GOST 9573-2012 “Mineral wool slabs with a synthetic binder for thermal insulation”, are divided into mats and slabs of varying hardness, which have their own designations and specific areas of application, which can be seen in the following table.
Marking of mineral wool mats and slabs and their areas of application
The density of mineral wool for insulation is the main indicator by which the scope of application is determined.
Here we will consider basalt insulation, the characteristics of which give a complete picture of the properties of various varieties of this material and areas of application - insulation from the Rockwool company.
Basalt wool, the technical characteristics of which are given in the table, has a recognized best properties, if we compare it with other well-known manufacturers that began to be used in the construction industry much later, such as Nobasil, Turkart, PAROC, Knauf, Isoroc, etc.
TechnoNIKOL stone wool, the technical characteristics of which are given in the table below, is in no way inferior both in properties and in the variety of Rockwool products.
Mineral wool insulation is used for sound and heat insulation of the following enclosing structures:
The technology for insulating walls with mineral slabs under plaster consists of sequentially performing the following operations:
The thermal insulation thickness of the insulation is selected based on calculations taking into account the conditions of the climatic region in which the facility is being constructed.
The procedure for carrying out insulation of walls under plaster is developed in detail in the manual P 1-99 to SNiP 3.03.01-87 “Design and installation of thermal insulation of external walls of buildings for plaster”, published in Belarus and the Russian Federation.
Walls can be insulated mainly from the outside. The option - insulating walls from the inside with mineral wool plus plasterboard - should only be used in cases where external insulation is impossible for some reason. In this case, insulation of the walls from the inside with mineral wool is carried out with the indispensable installation of a ventilation gap between the insulation and the sheathing to prevent the deposition of condensation moisture inside the structure.
More details about the principles of external and internal insulation can be read in the article "".
Insulation of multilayer walls is carried out in the process of bricklaying or the construction of walls from small-piece or large-sized blocks. Insulation in the form of mats or slabs of grades P-40 or P-50 in terms of rigidity is laid in the air gap between internal wall and facing layer.
The internal masonry and the facing layer are connected by metal or polymer anchor rods, which are installed in a checkerboard pattern with a pitch of 600x600 mm. When installing anchors, they should be placed, if possible, at the joints between the slabs; otherwise, the anchors should be passed through the slabs.
When laying the facing layer, provisions must be made ventilation holes– entrance in the lower part of the wall, exhaust in the upper part, which serve as vertical joints unfilled with mortar in an amount of at least 150 cm² per 20 m² of wall area.
To install insulation using a system of ventilated facades, a frame of thin-walled metal profiles is pre-installed on external walls made of concrete, reinforced concrete or brick. The profiles are installed in horizontal and vertical directions so that insulation boards fit between them.
Insulation boards, the grade of which must be at least P-75 in density for buildings up to 12 m high (1-4 floors), and no less than P-120 for buildings over 12 m high (5 or more floors), are installed between the frame elements and fastened with dowels with wide plastic caps. For buildings up to 12 m high, each insulation board is secured with two dowels; for buildings higher than 12 m, the insulation board is secured with four dowels.
The insulation layer is covered with a windproofing membrane made of special film, then the frame with insulation is lined with various facade materials - siding, porcelain tiles, composite panels, etc. An air gap must be left between the surface of the insulation and the facing materials for ventilation. For buildings up to 12 m high, the air gap must be at least 15 mm; for buildings over 12 m, the air gap must be at least 40 mm.
The thickness of the insulation is taken by calculation. In many cases, a small thickness is sufficient, for which, for example, Rocklight stone wool 50 mm thick can be used.
When installing the filling of frame partitions, a frame is first installed from thin-walled steel profiles or wooden beams, consisting of racks mounted on soundproofing pads and horizontal crossbars. The pitch of the racks and the distance between the crossbars are selected in accordance with the dimensions of the mineral wool slabs used, so that the slabs fit tightly in the space being filled. To fill frame partitions, a mini-slab with a P-50 or P-75 density grade is used.
After filling the partition frames with mineral wool slabs, they are sheathed on both sides plasterboard sheets or other cladding materials with subsequent finishing.
According to the portal's experts, stone wool is one of the best insulation materials for many reasons. When the customer, when choosing insulation for own home asks himself the question: which insulation is better - polystyrene foam or mineral wool, you should choose stone wool, since, despite approximately equal thermal conductivity, mineral mats and slabs made of basalt wool are superior to foam plastic and other materials in other qualities - fire resistance, environmental friendliness, vapor permeability and durability.
To choose the optimal insulation for arranging high-quality and durable insulation in an apartment or house, you need to know the advantages and disadvantages of each material.
Based on the type of raw material, thermal insulation materials are divided into two large groups: inorganic (based on basalt rocks, fiberglass, asbestos, etc.) and organic (fibreboards, foam and foam plastics, peat slabs, etc.). We will talk about stone wool insulation, which is made from natural materials and is used without restrictions in the construction of a wide variety of buildings - from high-rise buildings to small private houses.
The process of producing stone wool begins with the melting of volcanic rocks (basalt, porphyrite, diabase) at a temperature of 1500 °C. Then the plastic mass, practically “lava,” is fed into a centrifuge.
where, under the influence of a powerful air flow, thin fibers are formed from it. A small amount of binder (2-4% of the total mass) is added to them to maintain the shape of the slabs, and a water repellent to repel moisture. Then the fibers are given a random direction, a structure of the required density is created and sent to the polymerization chamber. Here, at a temperature of about 200 °C, the binder is cured and slabs or mats are finally formed, which are subsequently cut into products of a certain size and packaged in polyethylene.
Stone wool insulation is produced by many companies, including the most popular on the domestic market: TechnoNIKOL, Izoroc, Izover, Izovol. Paroc. Rockwool.
The main characteristic of thermal insulation is the value of the thermal conductivity coefficient. For stone wool materials, this parameter ranges from 0.035 to 0.045 W/(m K), which allows them to be considered very effective.
The key to the durability of stone wool is its natural properties natural stone and components that ensure the strength of fiber bonding and uniformity of structure. And the finest fibers that form the material, arranged randomly, in horizontal and vertical directions, at different angles and tightly woven together, give the necessary rigidity and stable shape. Therefore, the wool does not deform and does not shrink over a long period of time.
Thanks to its open porous structure (the fibers are intertwined with each other in different directions and form many interconnected tiny cavities), stone wool insulation absorbs airborne and impact noise well and reduces vibrations. Therefore, it is used in acoustic ceiling systems, when arranging interior partitions, ceilings and floors.
Stone wool does not burn, because, you see, it is impossible to set fire to a stone. Fibers from this natural material can withstand temperatures up to 1000 °C, protecting building structures from fire and preventing their destruction. In the event of a fire, the insulation does not emit heat or smoke and does not turn into burning drops. In addition, it prevents the spread of fire, so in the event of a fire in the premises, there is more time to save people and property.
Products famous manufacturers complies with sanitary and epidemiological standards and does not harm human health and the environment. High-quality materials have all the necessary certificates confirming their safety.
When choosing stone wool insulation, you should take into account its properties, scope of application, type of insulated structure and operating conditions. Any material will be effective only if correct use, and then the house will be warm in winter and cool in summer. In addition to creating a comfortable indoor microclimate, insulation will reduce heating costs, reduce operating costs, and increase the service life of load-bearing structures; It will also make it possible to purchase boilers and air conditioners of lower power. Rock wool insulation is used in all types of buildings; on slopes and flat roofs; when insulating attic, interfloor and basement floors; walls of residential buildings, baths and saunas both outside and inside; during the construction of frame structures and interior partitions; arrangement of floors with screeding, on floor slabs or joists.
Transforming a cold attic into a residential attic is impossible without properly selected and carefully installed thermal insulation. Such a reconstruction allows minimal costs increase the living space, and the thermal insulation material becomes
a buffer that neutralizes temperature changes and maintains a comfortable thermal regime. After all, the roof of a house, especially a metal one, heats up to 70 °C in summer, and cools down to -DO °C in winter. Among the products recommended for insulation attic premises, - “Light Butts” and “Light Butts Scandic” (Rockwool). "Rocklight" (TechnoNIKOL), eXtra (Paroc), "Isover Opti-mal" (Saint-Gobain).
Main load-bearing element the roofs are rafters. Most often, insulation is placed in the space between them. First, moisture-and-wind membranes with high vapor permeability are laid on the rafters. They prevent moisture from entering the thickness of the insulation, which penetrates into the under-roof space through cracks and joints of roof covering elements or falls out in the form of condensation on its inner side. It is no secret that wet insulation loses its insulating properties and provokes rotting of the wooden parts of the roof structure and corrosion of the metal ones.
Lathing bars are installed on top of the membrane along the rafters, and, if necessary (depending on the type of film), counter battens and sheathings are installed. Then they mount roof covering. Thermal insulation material is laid under the waterproofing, placing it spaced between the rafters along the entire length of the slope to the walls. A vapor barrier is attached to the bottom or ends of the rafters, which protects the stone wool from moist air coming from living quarters. Then the bars are attached, serving as the basis for the finishing cladding. By the way, in dry weather the roofing pie can be laid in reverse order(vapor barrier, insulation, waterproofing, roofing), which significantly facilitates and speeds up the work.
In order for the floors in the house to always be warm, it is necessary to provide effective thermal insulation. It can be done in two ways. The first is that the insulation is placed between the joists, which are installed on the concrete floor in increments of 60 cm. A vapor barrier layer is laid on top of the joists, and a continuous flooring is mounted on it under the finishing coating.
The second method: the floor insulation is laid on the floor slabs and a “floating screed” is installed on top of it. In this case, the strength properties of the insulating material are important, that is, its ability to resist a particular load without deformation. Experts recommend using “Floor Butts” (Rockwool) for these purposes. "ISOVER Floating Floor" (Saint-Gobain), "Iso-flor" (Izoroc). Work on floor insulation begins with the dismantling of structures up to the ceiling. The surface is cleaned and leveled, rigid insulation boards intended for insulating floors are laid, and covered with plastic film. Then a screed is made (U cm thick), mesh reinforced made of wire. In this case, it is necessary to exclude contact of the screed with the walls, for example, using a thin layer of foamed polyethylene or edges around the perimeter of the room made of
the same material. Then the screed will withstand any temperature expansion, will not crack, and impact noise will not transfer to the walls. After this, in accordance with accepted rules, they are laid flooring. Such a design can withstand quite large loads, for example, installing a piano, electric stove, etc.
The rooms in the house are separated by partitions, which should prevent the transmission of noise from a working TV, radio, as well as loud conversations from one room to another. Soundproofing ability of structures
characterizes the airborne sound insulation index Rw. The higher its value, the more effectively the partition prevents the penetration of sounds. Most stone wool manufacturers offer special slabs with enhanced sound insulation properties, for example “Technoacoustic” (“TechnoNIKOL”). "Acoustic Butts" (Rockwool). "Isover ZeukoProtection" (Saint-Gobain). Frame structures filled with these materials often have a sound insulation index Rw that exceeds the requirements of SP 51.13330.2011 “Noise Protection”, according to which the Rw of partitions between apartment rooms should be 52 dB.
If, when building a two-story cottage measuring 9 x 12 m, instead of masonry with three bricks (total thickness 770 mm), you use masonry with thermal insulation made of stone wool (total thickness 380 mm), you can get more than 14 m2 of additional area only by reducing the thickness of the walls. In addition, the consumption of bricks will be noticeably reduced, the amount of work on the construction of walls will be reduced, and it will also be possible to significantly lighten the foundation. Experts consider external insulation to be the most rational way to insulate a home. In this case, the condensation zone of escaping vapors is moved outside load-bearing wall- on the outer surface of the insulation. Vapor-permeable thermal insulation materials do not prevent the evaporation of moisture from the wall into the external space. As a result, the moisture content of the wall is reduced and the service life of the structure is increased. At the same time, the insulating material prevents the passage heat flow from the load-bearing wall outward, increasing the temperature of the structure as a whole. The outer layer of thermal insulation protects the wall from alternating freezing and thawing, evens out temperature fluctuations in its mass, which also increases the durability of the supporting structure. Of course thermal insulation layer it is necessary to protect it with a durable vapor-permeable coating both from moisture from precipitation and from mechanical influences. There are many different products for external wall insulation. When choosing the optimal material, you can also focus on the type of surface finish (plaster, siding, etc.). let's say "Facade Butts" (Rockwool), Izovol F-100/120/150. Ragos Fas 1.
High-quality thermal insulation during the construction of baths and saunas allows the premises to quickly warm up and maintain a stable temperature for a long time. When using conventional thermal insulation, first a thermal insulation material is installed between the frame guides, and then a vapor barrier layer is placed on top. Materials with a foil layer, such as deformation-resistant soft slabs “Sauna Butts” (Rockwool), will help to significantly simplify work and save time.
In addition, foil thermal insulation is completely vapor-tight, and due to the reflective property of the metal, it reduces heat loss. But this rule only works if the installation is done correctly. Keep in mind: the foil-coated material is not laid in several rows so that the stone wool is not trapped between two impermeable layers. The foil should be located only on the side of the room. If it is necessary to arrange a multilayer structure, then materials without foil are laid on the outer wall, and with foil on the inner wall.
ADVANTAGES OF STONE WOOL AS INSULATION
Fireproof, non-flammable (fiber melting point above 1000°C).
They have a low thermal conductivity coefficient (0.035-0.065 W/(m * K). + Excellent insulation of shock and airborne noise in the mid-frequency range. + Vapor permeable and hydrophobic. They freely allow water vapor to pass through, but do not absorb moisture from the air due to minimal sorption capacity.
They have good physical and mechanical characteristics. + Convenient and safe to style. + Chemically and biologically stable, not susceptible to bacteria and microorganisms, and are not of interest to rodents. + Durable (lasts at least 50 years). + Safe for humans.
DISADVANTAGES OF STONE INSULATION
– Slight (maximum 30%) compression of the material in the packaging, so it requires more space during transportation.
– Quite a high cost.
When arranging an insulated attic, in order to protect the thermal insulation from moisture, two types of rolled roofing films are most often used. Vapor barriers (vapor barrier) are used from the side of the room, and diffusion membranes are used on top of the insulation, according to outside rafters Special mounting tapes are used for gluing the canvases; it is even better to use films of the new series “Ondutis Smart” (“Ondulin”) with an integrated mounting tape. Working with this material is not at all difficult: just remove the protective film, combine the a with the overlap, and they are easily and reliably connected to each other.
The physical and mechanical properties of acoustic stone wool ensure reliable operation of the material in vertical structures for a long time (at least 50 years).
“Techno-acoustic” (“Techno NIKOL”) slabs are used in frame partitions, suspended ceilings, on floors without load on the material.
Frame partitions are fireproof, easy and quick to install, lightweight, and most importantly, excellent sound insulation of air and impact noise.
External insulation of a house helps to increase the usable area of the building without changing its size, reduce the consumption of building materials and make the structure lighter.
The optimal size of the air gap between the foil layer and the casing (for example, from lining) is 1 cm. The gap will create a thermal protection effect and reflect infrared rays.
“Sauna Butts” (Rockwool) are insulating boards, one side laminated with aluminum foil.
The vapor barrier foil layer is sealed, for which the joints of the plates are glued with tape that can withstand elevated temperatures.
ROOFING PIE OF A PITCHED ROOF. LOCATED ABOVE THE ATTIC:
1 - roofing;
2 - sheathing;
3 - thermal insulation between wooden rafters; A - waterproofing membrane;
5 - vapor barrier film;
6 — internal finishing coating
INSULATION WITH STONE WOOL FLOOR ALONG THE JOGS;
1 - rough sheathing on the floor covering made of OSB or gypsum board sheets;
2 — superdiffusion membrane;
3 - stone wool slabs between
wooden joists;
th - vapor barrier film;
5 - subfloor;
6 - substrate and topcoat
FRAME PARTITION INSULATED WITH STONE WOOL:
1 - sheathing made of gypsum plasterboard (GVL) in 1 (2) layers;
2 — stone wool “Technoacoustic”;
3 — steel frame;
4 - sheathing made of gypsum plasterboard (GVL) in 1 (2) layers;
5 — finishing premises
If the internal distance between the supports is 10-20 mm less than the width of the mat (a), cut a piece of the required length and lay it apart (b). If the dimensions do not match, the slab is cut to a size equal to the pitch of the supports plus 10-20 mm.
What is stone wool, what types of this insulation exist, its technical characteristics, advantages and disadvantages, how to choose the right material and installation features yourself.
In this heat insulator, synthetic impurities are contained in minimal quantities, and the excellent natural characteristics of the stone are preserved. The fibers are intertwined and bonded using special substances. The latter are phenol and formaldehyde in the form of resins.
The method of producing stone fibers was invented after an unusual discovery in Hawaii. There, after a volcanic eruption, the so-called “Pele’s hair” was discovered - thin threads of frozen volcanic rock. They became the predecessors of basalt fiber, created in their likeness, but under production conditions. Stone wool was first produced in 1897 in the USA.
In modern conditions, the material is made using the principles of volcanoes. In special furnaces, rocks are melted at a temperature of about 1500 degrees above zero and a liquid melt is obtained. It is pulled into fibers using in various ways: centrifugal-roll, blow, centrifugal-blown, centrifugal-spun-blown and others. The thickness of the finished fibers is no more than seven microns, the length is no more than five centimeters.
After the fibers are formed, a binder is added to them by spraying it, pouring it on the basalt “carpet” or preparing hydromass. In order to provide the product with certain technical properties, during the manufacturing process the material is additionally processed with special solutions that increase density, vapor permeability, and hydrophobicity.
After applying binders and technical fluids, the basalt carpet is subjected to heat treatment at temperatures up to 230 degrees. Under such conditions, the polycondensation reaction takes place. After heat treatment, finished stone wool is obtained with a specific open cellular structure that can withstand temperatures up to 1000 degrees Celsius. This material contains no more than 3% organic substances.
In terms of hardness, stone wool insulation can be:
There is another type of stone wool - foil material. It provides double insulation. That is, it not only does not release heat beyond its own limits, but also reflects it, directing warm air inside the building. This heat insulator can have one-sided foil or two-sided foil. This foil-coated stone wool is versatile and can be used in any environment.
In general, the following disadvantages of stone wool can be identified:
Also, during the installation of stone wool, you will need a construction knife, a metal or wooden profile (slats). With their help you will need to equip the sheathing. If the slabs have a high density - from 100 kilograms per cubic meter, then you will need a hacksaw for cutting.
We carry out the work in stages:
Watch a video review of stone wool:
Insulation of housing is a pressing problem of our time. Not only in new buildings, but also in old housing stock, people are trying to reduce heating costs. Continuously rising energy prices put significant pressure on the family budget, widening the gap between income and expenses.
By properly insulating your home or apartment, we will ensure comfort for ourselves and our loved ones. The amount on the virtual “counter” of savings after this work will grow every year.
The only question that needs to be answered correctly is what material to use to retain heat in your home? In answering this question, we will look at stone wool and evaluate its advantages and disadvantages.
This material is made from basalt, a rock of volcanic origin. In order to obtain soft fiber from hard stone, it is melted. After this, the hot mass is separated into fibers using various technologies (blowing, rolling, spunbond and centrifugal drawing).
The resulting semi-finished product has one significant drawback: the basalt fibers crumble and it is impossible to form a single mass from them. Therefore, in the next step, an adhesive is introduced into the fiber.
Most often, phenol-formaldehyde resin is used in this capacity. It connects the fibers together, allowing you to form a carpet of the desired thickness. Next, the material is given water-repellent properties by treating it with mineral oil. The last operations are cutting the insulation and packaging it.
It should be noted that in the construction market the term stone wool is not often used. The names more familiar to the mass buyer are mineral wool and basalt wool. To avoid confusion, it should be remembered that we're talking about about the same material obtained from basalt rock.
One more note: basalt mineral wool should not be confused with glass wool and slag wool. The first type of insulation is obtained from molten glass. The raw material for the second is blast furnace slag. Today, mineral wool has practically supplanted its closest competitors. Glass wool is noticeably inferior to it in terms of environmental friendliness. The quality of slag wool is low, so the demand for it has fallen.
While remaining essentially a natural stone, basalt wool has acquired best qualities insulation. From the rock it inherited resistance to fire and high temperature. This material is not afraid aggressive influence acids Oil treatment made it impervious to moisture.
The fibrous structure provided the material with excellent heat and sound insulation properties and good vapor permeability - a very important characteristic of any insulation.
Speaking about stone wool insulation, many argue about the environmental friendliness of this material. The reason for concern is the phenol-formaldehyde resin that is part of it and glues the fibers together. However, upon closer examination, doubts dissipate.
The mass fraction of glue in this insulation does not exceed 3%. Studies conducted by sanitary control authorities have confirmed the safety of mineral wool for health.
The main guideline for the consumer in the matter of environmental friendliness is the products of certified manufacturers who strictly observe raw material proportions and technology.
The main characteristic of insulation is density. Its thermal insulation ability is directly related to it. In addition, density is essential during installation.
According to this indicator, the material is divided into three categories:
To classify insulation boards, alphanumeric “brand” designations are used. The letters indicate the degree of hardness (soft - PM, semi-hard - PP, hard RV). The numbers indicate density (kg/m3). The most common brands are PM-40, PM-50, PP-70, PP-80, PZh 100, PZh-120.
The main characteristics of TechnoNIKOL Rocklight basalt slabs - a popular universal material for private construction.
Soft rolled wool(thermal conductivity coefficient 0.033 W/m*C) is used for insulation of interfloor ceilings, frame partitions, and pipelines.
A semi-rigid slab (0.039 W/m*C) is placed in multilayer sandwich panels and mounted on ceilings, ventilated facades and roofs.
Rigid insulation (0.046 W/m*C) is used where the surface experiences mechanical loads (floors, flat roofs in use, foundations, underground pipelines).
Basalt wool has good sound-absorbing qualities. Its fibrous structure actively dampens acoustic air vibrations, reducing the noise level in the room. It is used as sound insulation in internal frame partitions. For external cladding of facades, it performs the functions of heat and sound insulation.
The sound absorption coefficient of the material ranges from 0.87 to 0.95. When purchasing, pay attention to it. The higher its value, the better the material dampens sound.
Mineral wool does not have a single classification based on geometric dimensions. Each manufacturer offers its own “line” of insulation. Different brands only have the same thickness of material - 50, 100, 150 and 200 mm.
Three types of stone wool are produced: rolled, in slabs and shaped (in the form of a round shell for insulating pipelines). To increase heat-reflecting qualities and protect against external influences, rolled mineral wool is used, onto the surface of which a layer of metal foil is glued.
Length roll material can be from 3 to 50 meters, with a width from 0.6 to 1.5 m. The slab (semi-rigid and rigid) is produced in widths from 60 to 120 cm and lengths from 120 to 150 cm.
There is also no strict gradation in terms of vapor permeability level. This indicator is indicated in the certificate and can take a value from 0.3 to 0.55 mg/m hPa. The higher it is, the better the material allows water vapor to pass through.
In terms of fire safety, basalt wool belongs to the category of non-combustible materials (NG), withstanding direct heating up to a temperature of +1100 C.
Having considered the main characteristics of this material, we can draw conclusions about its advantages and disadvantages.
TO positive qualities mineral wool can be classified as:
The main disadvantage of basalt wool appears at the installation stage. When working with it, dust is formed, consisting of small particles of stone fibers. They enter the respiratory system, causing coughing and irritation. Eliminating the damage caused by dust is not difficult. To do this, you should use standard personal protective equipment (masks or respirators). Also, negative factors include the considerable cost of the material.
Most often, mineral wool is used for external insulation of walls, attic floors and roofs. For thermal insulation of the foundation, foam plastic is better suited - an inexpensive and fairly rigid material that does not allow water to pass through.
Failure to comply with technology is costly!
Stone wool for facade wooden house installed after treating the walls with an antiseptic that protects them from rotting. The surface of foam concrete and bricks before insulation is cleaned of old paint and peeling plaster. The work of installing insulation is best done during the warm season on dry walls.
All window sills and door trims must be removed before installation. Since the thickness of the walls will increase after covering with mineral wool, you will have to buy new elements of window and door cladding.
Dry installation of insulation into the frame
There are two ways to insulate with stone wool: dry and “wet”. The first involves the use of a wooden or steel frame (lathing), in the cells of which insulation is placed. In the second method, the slabs are attached to walls without a frame using glue and disc dowels.
"Wet" installation option
It should be noted that installation in a frame is most often used when constructing a ventilated facade. The lathing allows you to create a gap between the insulation and the outer cladding (4-6 cm), through which water vapor is released into the atmosphere.
The disc dowel is used for both dry and “wet” installation
Mineral wool is placed on glue and dowels in cases where a finishing layer (plaster, putty) will be applied to its surface.
When mounting the frame, its slats are placed so that the distance between them is 1-2 cm less than the width of the slab or roll of basalt wool. In this way, a tight installation is achieved. Work on installing the sheathing begins from the corners of the building, using a level and a cord to install the guides in the same plane.
The roll is rolled out from top to bottom. The slabs, on the contrary, are placed from bottom to top. Having filled all the rows of the sheathing with insulation, a vapor barrier film is fixed to it, which performs the function of wind protection. The joints of the film sheets are glued with construction tape. After this, holes are drilled in the wall and plastic dowels are hammered into them, securing the mineral wool and the wind barrier.
The next operation is to attach counter-battens (second sheathing) to the frame, creating a ventilated gap between the insulation and the outer cladding of the facade.
Design for dry wall insulation (ventilated façade)
The general rule for installing mineral wool slabs is to prevent the joints of the insulation from matching the corners of door and window openings.
Basalt slabs can be installed in one or two layers. It all depends on the chosen thickness of insulation.
Some manuals suggest two-layer installation as a way to protect joints from blowing. In this case, the slabs are mounted so that the upper ones cover the joints between the lower ones. With this option, the sheathing has to be placed in two rows, perpendicular to one another.
With two-layer installation, maximum tightness of insulation is achieved
With this option, the main role is played by the glue that fixes the mineral wool slabs to the wall. It must have good vapor transmission so that condensation does not accumulate in the insulation. Be sure to take this point into account when purchasing. The market offers special adhesive compositions, designed for working with stone wool.
The sequence of work using the wet method is visible in the figure.
Design for insulating walls with basalt wool and adhesive mortar
Installation of slabs begins after installation starting profile, covering the slabs from below and preventing them from sliding until the adhesive composition sets.
A layer of glue is evenly distributed over the slab with a notched trowel and then pressed against the wall. Having installed a horizontal row, the insulation is additionally fixed with plastic disc-shaped dowels.
Having finished covering the wall, a layer of glue is also applied to the surface of the material and a fiberglass reinforcing mesh is embedded in it. Having leveled the surface with the rule, the solution is allowed to dry. The final operation is plastering.
Behind last years A whole “clip” of manufacturers of high-quality stone wool has formed on the market. These are foreign brands Isover(Izover), Rockwool(Rockwool), Paroc(Parok). A domestic company competes with them on equal terms TechnoNIKOL. The products of the Russian company have also earned a good reputation Izovol(Izovol).
The range of products they produce covers all areas of insulation, from the basement to the roof.
For a correct comparison, consider the price for 1 m2 of insulation with a thickness of 10 cm for universal use, offered by different companies:
We visited the city of Yurga, Kemerovo region, at factories producing rolled roofing materials, extruded polystyrene foam boards and stone wool.
Today my story and show is about the third plant - a plant for the production of stone (basalt) wool.
"Hurry up! Quickly, let's go watch the process!" - they called us, who were carried away by cutting out Legos from extruded polystyrene foam(they cut out my heart from the EPP!).
Intrigued, we thought that now something else would be made from these gray polystyrene cubes, but they put us in a car and rushed to another plant.
The stone wool production plant became the third plant of the TechnoNIKOL corporation in Siberia and at the Yurga site in particular. In 2013, almost 900 thousand cubic meters of product came out of the assembly line of this network plant alone.
Stone wool is a highly effective thermal insulation material. In terms of thermal efficiency, it is ready to compete with the standard heat insulator - air in a stationary state. High heat transfer resistance is achieved by keeping a large amount of air stationary inside the insulation using closely interwoven fine mineral wool fibers.
Natalya 13vredina with the fruits of labor from XPS.
At the factory we dressed up in respirators and went to the workshop. We already had helmets and vests on.
Of course, I have never seen anything like this. For some, this is everyday work, but for me it was a mesmerizing sight: men in silver suits and helmets were doing magic at a cupola furnace (this is a kind of shaft furnace). For some reason, Chicherina’s song was spinning in my head: the kind and kind firemen in silver helmets... 
The production of stone wool is a complex, multi-stage technological process.
Rocks of the gabbro-basalt group (raw materials) are delivered to the raw materials warehouse.
At the beginning of the production cycle, the raw materials are sifted and the coarse fraction is fed to dispensers, which carefully weigh the raw materials.
Only after this the charge (a mixture of initial components) is fed into the cupola - a vertical shaft furnace. The coke-gas cupola furnaces installed at the plant using hot blast make it possible to obtain a melt of the required temperature (about 1500 °C) and the required viscosity.
This is the mouth of that same cupola furnace. It's about 1500 degrees Celsius inside! 
Schematically, the cupola looks something like this: 
Almost like a door to Narniryu. 
and then molten metal poured out of the furnace! 
Afterwards, the cart with the bowl is quickly pulled away by a second handsome man in silver robes. 
This is a metal smelted from basalt - a waste product. Then at the same factory they will make briquettes from it, which will then also be used. 
So, the resulting melt is sent to a multi-roll centrifuge, where, under the influence of centrifugal force, droplets of the melt are drawn into fiber. The initial raw materials and the stability of the melt composition make it possible to obtain high-quality mineral wool with high chemical resistance and durability. At the moment of fiber formation, a binder with water repellent and dust removal additives is supplied through nozzles installed on the centrifuge using the latest technology developed in the company’s own research center.
We weren't able to see this process with our own eyes, but we were told that it was similar to how cotton candy is made.
Multi-roll centrifuge Such a big cotton candy.
Only from basalt.
The smelting process ended, and we all stood spellbound and continued to click our cameras and phones. We were brought out of the trance and while stone fibers were being pulled out in the bowels of the machines, we followed into the workshop where the rest of the action took place.
A lot of attention is paid to safety at the plant. Motivational posters are hung everywhere - in workshops, on loading docks and throughout the factory complex. 
I don’t know how brutal men are, but I got chilled and I even tried not to go off the pedestrian paths. These white zebras are the trajectory of pedestrian visitors. 
So, from a multi-roll centrifuge, basalt fiber treated with a binder, cooled by an air flow, enters the conveyor. This creates a primary “carpet” of mineral wool, which is fed to a pendulum spreader, ensuring uniform density of the products produced.
Pendulum spreader.
After the pendulum spreader, the “carpet” goes to the corrugator-presser, which gives the future product a corrugated structure due to partial vertical orientation of the fibers, which allows achieving high mechanical properties finished products.
Corrugator-pre-presser.
The “carpet” formed in this way enters the heat treatment chamber, where at a temperature of 200-250°C the binder is cured and the main physical and mechanical characteristics are set.
The quality of the product as a whole depends on the quality of this process. All technological processes on the line are controlled automatically. In conditions of increasing standards regulating deviations from specified geometric dimensions building materials, much attention is paid to the cutting accuracy of finished products.
Natalya 13vredina
enjoys life
By the way, you can cut not only in a straight line. Here is an example of intricate curly cutting. It’s a pity they didn’t let us cut out polystyrene foam like in the laboratory, otherwise we would have wow! 
Ready-to-use products are packaged in a special shrink film, which allows you to store pallets with products under open air, without loss of presentation and deterioration in the performance of the product.
By the way, the factories amazed me with the abundance of natural light in production premises. I expected something different, apparently based on my ideas about half-abandoned workshops in factories where dusty windows had not been washed for decades. 
From the workshop we were taken to a testing laboratory, where mineral wool was torn, drowned, burned, and also performed tricks.
Product quality testing laboratory
First they tore. These are the machines. 
test result in kPa and other figures 
Then they drowned 
As you can see, the water rolled up on the surface into round shapes and was not absorbed inside. 
Then they brought us to large room and they annealed it and began to burn the cotton wool with a gas burner, which caused a brown spot to form on it, but it never caught fire. Technology. 
The thermal imager tells us that it is hot under the burner jet. 
So that everything is without deception, with reverse side When the stove was set on fire, it could be touched with your hands.
By the way, you can see here that a through stain from the fire did not form.
Everything is taken into account and recorded on the thermal imager. The stove on the back side became hot only from contact with the hand. 
Then came the most interesting test for me. The most important thing is because I am an adept of silence. If it were up to me, I would soundproof everything, because the last thing I want is to know what the foreign plasterers/painters are talking about behind the wall and what the neighbor’s child is crying about. Well, I also don’t like it when people stomp over my head. Therefore, the sound insulation test was more interesting to me than others. I didn’t even spare my phone for such an event.
Volunteers placed their favorite dialers in a plasterboard box with mineral wool. 
The casket closes 
At this moment, the others who have pressed their cell phone with the camera to call call us. There is a ringing silence in the room, broken only by dialing beeps. 
The box opens and voila! Someone was unlucky and the 5th area turned into an alarm clock and a city telephone receiver. Joke. For the purity of the experiment, we put everything that made noise in the laboratory there. 
I couldn’t resist and asked the question in the laboratory: “Is it true that stone wool placed vertically settles over time?” (I read this when choosing the front door)
“No, it’s not true,” they told me. Products are for horizontal laying and for vertical placement. Properly selected material for its intended purpose is guaranteed to retain its properties for several decades. At the same time, there was not a shadow of doubt in the eyes. In my head I began to calculate the cost of soundproofing the walls with my neighbors.
Eugene vovney
makes a serious face, as if he himself invented rock wool)))
By the way, the entire stone wool production cycle looks something like this: 
Production and environmental safety
The plant for the production of stone wool (like other plants of this company in Yurga - for the production of rolled waterproofing materials and extruded polystyrene foam) is a waste-free and drainless production.
What does it mean?
Drainless technological systems and water circulation cycles are when the process waters of the enterprise do not leave the mineral wool production. All process water is used in the preparation of the binding solution within the production itself.
For implementation waste-free A system for recycling production waste as a secondary material resource has been introduced. Highly efficient gas and dust collection equipment is installed in the production workshops. The plant uses in further production the resulting screenings of stone, coke, waste and rejects of mineral wool products, captured filtered dust from gas purification units, used filter elements of gas purification cassette filters.
To reduce the total mass of waste generated and to save raw materials, a section for the production of briquettes in the raw materials workshop and processing of production waste is provided. At the briquetting plant, briquettes are obtained from production waste for use together with feedstock in cupola furnaces for the production of mineral wool.
Taken together, these measures make it possible to ensure environmental safety of production.
