The use of insulation with foil

Catching problems of warming during the repair of an apartment, the construction of houses, baths and other ancillary or economic structures, any host always raises the problem of choosing the best insulating materials.It is good that today range of commercially - wide enough.But this variety of choices can play with the ignorant man and "a cruel joke» - wonder entangled in such abundance and of making a mistake. Therefore, going to the store for purchase or intending to make an online order, the customer must already have an idea about the characteristics of the material, its characteristics, scope and methods of basic technological installation.

In this paper, an overview of thermal insulation materials will be made that, despite the fact that they can have a different base substrate, yet one common important feature - the foil surface.So, we consider the variety, advantages and disadvantages, the price level and the practical application of insulation with foil.

Advantages and insulation defects with foiling

Any of insulating materials has its insulating qualities of light foam, porous, fluff, fiber or other basis, which allows you to create and maintain a layer of air.But the air itself has a very low thermal conductivity, and the sum obtained insulating layer, heat transmission through which, if not completely eliminated, it significantly reduced.It is clear that any material has its own indicators of thermal resistance, and the overall ability of insulation depends on its thickness.

1 - mineral wool

2 - polyethylene foam

3 - polystyrene.

4 - foam concrete.

But it is, so to speak, the passive role of a heater.Is it possible to make thermoinsulator not only did not pass through its structure heat, but was more active, reflecting the thermal energy in the right direction?It turns out that you can - and it uses foiling .

infrared wavelength close to visible light, and heat flow as well as the light beam is able to be reflected from the mirror surface and redirect back.It is on this principle operates any thermos - thin glass, or metal flasks of liquid from the inside mirror or polished surface, and air (or vacuum) layer around.

Heat in a straightforward design is preserved for a long time. The same principle is used for insulation of residential premises, baths, industrial buildings and production lines, agricultural facilities and etc .To do this, apply the foil heaters.

Modern technologies allow to apply a layer of aluminum foil on virtually any insulation materials, so that the observed strength of the resulting multi-layer construction, without it bundle.As a result, the new heaters acquire a number of great qualities:

• create "effectiveness reflux Hermoso" in the room allows you to save a lot better heat in the winter time, and vice versa - cool in summer.
• Improved insulation entails a reduction in energy consumption for heating.
• foil surface itself is a good barrier against moisture and water vapor, which in some cases eliminates the need for additional waterproofing layer.
• Foiling no way reduces the thermal insulating qualities of the material, the opposite - strengthens them and allows for a much smaller insulation thickness, that in the conditions of close rooms is sometimes crucial.
• Any type of foil insulation is still and good shumoizolyatorom .
• foil application on thermoinsulator poses no threat to the ecological point of view.On the contrary, often it becomes a firming overseas penetration of the smallest particles of the material in the space of the room.
• material is easy to assemble, which does not require any special skills.Moreover, it may , if necessary, be removed, and then mounted on the same or another location.
• Product form material - rolls or panels, is very convenient for installation.

Among the shortcomings can be noted:

• Aluminium still subject to gradual corrosion, why begins to thicken, and eventually reflecting its quality weaken somewhat.
• metal layer may be very hot, so the installation is necessary to provide a small air gap between the insulation and finishing the surface.Incidentally, the same air gap will facilitate ventilation of the aluminum coating and the lack of moisture on the surface of the foil is much reduce the aggressiveness of corrosion processes and thus increase the service life of the material.

The main types of insulation with foil

now worth considering more basic varieties of foil heaters, their characteristics and scope.In the particular construction materials are widely used polyethylene foam, mineral wool or from expanded polystyrene.There are also other materials, such as plate on a basalt-fiber-based with foiling , but this material is expensive and has a specific purpose - for insulation production lines, power plants, industrial facilities and special etc .

Foil insulation based on polyethylene foam

It - one of the most common and easy to work foil insulation types.Is a layer of polyethylene foam by a special technology, covered with one or two layers of foil thickness of 10 ÷ 15 microns.

thickness of the insulation layer can be different - from 2 to 15 mm.Product form - typically rolls, but may be of a standardized size and sheets that is characteristic of most especially thick (15 mm) species.

Available in three varieties of material:

• type A - sided foiling ;
• type B - foil coated on both sides, which is sometimes required to enhance the thermal insulation properties;
• type With - with one hand foil, on the other - covered with protective film self-adhesive layer to facilitate, where necessary, the process of installation on the ceiling or on a verticalsurfaces .

According to the type of starting material may also be differences:

• The inexpensive stamps used conventional polyethylene n H PE , which is subjected to repeated foaming in the production process with the creation of a closed gas-filled porous structure.The disadvantage of this material - low resistance to deformation stress, gradual shrinkage property.
• best indicator has insulation on the basis of specially treated, "cross-linked" polyethylene (PES).Density had slightly higher, but at the expense of cross-linking it not only more resistant to mechanical impact, but also seeks to recreate its original shape after removal of the dynamic load.When at finding nuance material that must be considered.

Some of these heaters can additionally have in their structure a glass fiber reinforcing mesh.

can meet many kinds of insulation based on polyethylene foam.A well-deserved popularity of certified products marks « Penofol », « Ekofol », « Izofleks », « Izolon », « Dzhermafleks », « foil insulating ».Some characteristics of these materials are given in the table:

Material name	Penofol	Izolon	Ekofol	Izofleks
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Thermal conductivity, W / m × ° C	0,049	0.04	0,049	0,035
density kg / m³	35	26 ÷ 33	33	35 ÷ 45
heat-reflecting ability	not less than 90%	to 95 ÷ 97%	not less than 80%	not less than 90%
operating temperature range	from -60 ° to + 100 ° C from	-80 ° to + 80 ° C	from -60 ° to + 90 ° C	from -60 ° to + 80 ° C
water vapor permeability of the material, mg / m × h × Pa	0,001	0,001	0,001	0,001
Product form	thickness of 2, 4, 5 mm with a layer of foil 14 microns, the rolls 1,2 × 30 m;8 and thickness of 10 mm - 15 rolls 1,2 × m	fabric width - 1.5 m, thickness 2, 3, 4, 5, 8 and 10 mm, the length of a roll, respectively, 200, 170, 130, 10080 and 50 m. The individual sheets 15 mm in thickness, size 1500 × 2000 mm	Rolls of 1200 mm width, the insulation thickness of 2, 3, 5, 8 and 10 mm and a length of 25 m and 15 m.	rolls 1200 mm wide,insulation thickness of 2, 3, 5, 8 or 10 mm, length 25 and thickness 15 m foiling -. 10 microns.

Foil foam finds wide application in repair and construction work.Sheets or strips of insulation attached to the surface in any convenient way, but in order to avoid compromising the integrity of the strong foiling (for example, it is permissible to fix it using the brackets construction stepplera ).As a rule, paintings stacked end to end, which is then glued foiled tape to ensure integrally reflective and insulating surface.

• Floor Warming.It is used as an additional or primary (eg in multi-storey buildings) insulating layer, which can simultaneously play the role of waterproofing .Stacked foil side up in front of the finish flooring flooring.

• Thermal insulation and additional insulation of walls and ceilings, especially in an environment where the room size does not allow the use of thicker types of heaters (the classic example - a narrow balcony or loggia).Mounted foil side to side of the room.Make sure the gap is provided between the foil and the topcoat (clapboard, paneling and etc .).Usually fixed on the surface of the rails crates ( kontrobreshetki ), which become the basis for facing.

• Warming roofs rays.It can be used alone or in combination with other materials.Anyway, foil foam is attached to the last side of the attic, and on top of it, in compliance with clearance is mounted cladding.

• Warming bath.Foil layer at the same time plays the role of a reliable parogidroizolyatsii , protecting wall material from waterlogged.However, under conditions of steam, which may be a high critical temperature, the use of the material is not always justified because of its limited operating temperature range.

• thermo- screens for radiators.Such a measure does not give vain spent thermal energy on unnecessary you progress in External Expansion in the wall, redirecting infrared flow back into the room.

interesting that this material is widely used for other purposes not related to construction.So, it is perfectly suited for thermal insulation and soundproofing of the car showrooms.Use it for the manufacture of warm insoles for winter shoes.

Video: comparative tests of foil insulation foam

Mineral wool with foiling

Thermal insulating properties of wool - very highly of themselves.But additional foiling only increase the effectiveness of insulation.In addition, this material is highly hygroscopic, and an extra barrier against moisture and water vapor will not allow the mineral wool get wet and lose their quality.

Product form material - rolls, pre-compressed or sectional or individual plates.

Name insulation	ISOVER Sauna	Rockwool Sauna Butts	Knauf Insulation LMF AluR	PAROC
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Thermal conductivity, W / m × ° C	0,041	0,036	0.04	0,039
density, kg / mm³	11	40	36	32
thickness	50or 100 mm	50 or 100 m	20 or 50 mm	50 or 100 mm
Product form	Rolls width 1200 mm, length 12.5 m, or 6.25, with three-time compression of the material.	package of 10 or 5 plates of mineral wool foil plates dimensions of 1000 × 600 mm	Rolls 1000 mm width and a length of 10 or 5 m	Mats 1200 × 600 mm, or roll up to 5 m

Due to the fact that the topoperating temperature limit mineral wool exceeds 300 degrees, it is perfectly suited for thermal insulation of walls and ceilings in the baths.In principle - and this is the main purpose of such a foil heater, though, of course, nothing to prevent its use for other purposes, such as for thermal insulation of the roof.

Anyway , slabs or mats are placed between the guide battens .Step guides originally given 10 ÷ 20m m m enshe width of insulation - so it fits enter into a niche intended for him.Density foiling usually such that a heater can be fastened straps over the aluminum layer.The joints are glued necessarily foiled tape to observe the effect of Hydro.Between the insulation and paneling of the wall (ceiling) left 20 ÷ 25 mm air gap.