Superwool Plus is 17% more energy efficient than traditional insulation

Dec. 13, 2010 - Morgan Thermal Ceramics has introduced Superwool Plus, a new high temperature insulation wool that is 17% more energy efficient than traditional Refractory Ceramic Fibre (RCF) and any other Alkaline Earth Silicate (AES) insulations. It is ideal for furnace linings in the iron and steel and aluminium industries as well as all applications where high temperature processing is a requirement. This enables users to increase manufacturing process efficiencies and make significant cost savings associated with energy usage.
There is increased demand for businesses around the world to make better use of the world's energy resources while reducing carbon emissions. The environmental concern together with increasing energy costs are front-of-mind for businesses and the new high temperature thermal insulation addresses these issues, offering key advantages over all other high temperature fibre products currently available.
Superwool Plus provides excellent insulation in high temperature environments with a classification temperature of 1200 C. A breakthrough in the company's advanced manufacturing control has allowed the product to be engineered to maximise the fibre content. This increase in surface area of fibre structure effectively blocks the thermal radiation and as a result, it has significantly lower thermal conductivity up to 20% lower than competitive insulations - and enhanced energy saving properties with much improved handleability.
Superwool Plus is efficient at restricting energy flow while maintaining other key material properties such as low shrinkage and good mechanical durability. It delivers high performance with less mass and blanket thickness than alternative products. Consequently, users can use less insulation and can make weight and cost savings. Customers can now use a thinner insulation blanket, such as the Superwool Plus 96 kg/m3, to provide the same insulation as a typical 128 kg/m3 blanket.
The insulation fibre blanket has high tensile strength with good handling ability. As such, it does not tear easily and is simple to install.
Superwool Plus is proven to have significant health and safety advantages over traditional insulations. It is a low bio-persistent fibre insulation and is exonerated from the carcinogen classification in the European Union under the terms of Nota Q of Directive 67/548/EEC.
"Industries are under increased pressure to improve energy efficiency and reduce carbon emissions," says Ron Wainwright, technical director, Morgan Thermal Ceramics. "In addition, the European Chemicals Agency has recently placed RCF on Annex XV of the REACH regulation, which means it is classified as a substance of very high concern, likely to be either carcinogenic, mutagenic or toxic to reproduction, or persistent and bioaccumulative."
"In light of this, Morgan Thermal Ceramics is committed to providing a new range of products to replace RCF, which offer more value and satisfy the needs of the future. The Superwool Plus range is an ideal alternative to RCF, helping customers to increase energy efficiencies throughout their plants."
Superwool Plus is available in blanket, modules, pyro modules, paper and bulk (chopped & unchopped). Felt, vacuum formed products, and board varieties are in development and are expected to be available in early 2011. It is the latest addition to the world-renowned Morgan Thermal Ceramics Superwool brand and is ideal for many applications including duct and chimney insulation, process heater linings, pipe wrap and automotive exhaust heat shields.
As energy costs continue to rise, using high performance insulation (such as Superwool Plus) together with regular furnace maintenance in heat-intensive industries is crucial to sustaining high furnace efficiency and keeping fuel expenses at a minimum.