mineralfibre

Mineral fibre is an insulating material made from molten minerals or industrial slags that are spun into fibers and formed into products such as batts, blankets, boards or loose-fill. The main families are rock wool (stone wool), produced from natural rocks such as basalt or diabase, and slag wool, made from steelmaking slag. In some cases other mineral sources are used, but all three are designed to provide thermal and acoustic insulation and fire protection.

Key properties of mineral fibre include non-combustibility and relatively high fire resistance, making it suitable for fire-protective applications in buildings and industrial equipment. Thermal conductivity values are typically in the range of about 0.036 to 0.042 W/m·K, depending on density and thickness. The materials are relatively dimensionally stable, offer good sound absorption, and can resist moisture to some extent, though performance can be affected by prolonged exposure to damp conditions. They are usually produced as flexible or rigid forms and can be faced with foils or papers for installation.

Applications cover a wide range of construction and industrial uses, including insulation for walls, roofs, floors, pipes and HVAC systems, as well as fire barriers and acoustic insulation in pretrained assemblies. Products are commonly installed in new buildings and used in retrofit projects.

Production involves melting stone or slag and forming fibers by spinning or extrusion, followed by mixing with binders and forming into batts, boards or pipe sections. Health and safety considerations focus on dust and fiber exposure during handling and installation; modern mineral wool products are designed to minimize respirable fibers, and appropriate personal protection is recommended during handling. Environmental aspects include recycled content and energy-intensive production, with end-of-life disposal typically handled as non-hazardous or recyclable insulation material where permitted.