The better to insulate with mineral wool or expanded clay. What is the thermal conductivity of building materials and why is this parameter so important? Specific thermal insulation parameters of expanded clay and rolled insulators
The efficiency of the heating system largely depends on the insulation used for thermal insulation of walls and ceilings. Expanded clay or mineral wool are evaluated in terms of practicality, cost, performance.
Thermal conductivity is not the only indicator used to assess the merits of thermal insulation materials. The thermal conductivity coefficient of mineral wool is about 0.04 W / (m * K), and expanded clay - 0.1-0.18 W / (m * K). During operation, this indicator is influenced by the scope, the thickness of the insulation layer, and the level of humidity.
The practicality of mineral wool and expanded clay granules is evaluated by a number of parameters:
| Characteristics | Expanded clay | mineral wool |
|---|---|---|
| Thermal conductivity | 0.18 W/(m*K) | 0.048 W/(m*K) |
| Layer thickness | 950 mm | 253 mm |
| Condensation | No | Yes - vapor barrier required | 475 kg/m² | 10.1 kg/m² |
| Environmental friendliness | Clay is a natural material | Phenolic resins are used in the production of mineral wool |
| fire safety | Incombustible | With direct exposure to fire, the adhesive binder burns, releasing phenol |
| Biostability | Resistant to fungi, mold. Not a habitat for insects and rodents |
Mineral wool or expanded clay can be used to insulate a horizontal surface. Vertical backfill will settle over time, bursting the walls. Moisture resistant expanded clay granules are considered the best insulation basements, basements and bathrooms. Lightweight cotton wool insulation is carefully isolated from living quarters to eliminate health hazards.
Subject to the installation rules, manufacturers of both types of insulation guarantee a service life of more than 50 years.
Which is cheaper: comparing the cost of two materials
1 cubic meter of expanded clay gravel can be bought for 1500 rubles, 1 roll of mineral wool measuring 8200 × 1220 × 50 mm costs from 1400 rubles.
The cost estimate for insulation should include the cost of:
- for the services of loaders - for the delivery of heavy bags with expanded clay;
- additional Consumables- timber, vapor barrier membrane, fasteners;
- personal protective equipment - important when using mineral wool insulation.
For the simultaneous solution of the problems of thermal insulation and sound insulation, it is clear that mineral wool is better. Expanded clay is not a heater, and the cheapness of the material can be completely offset by the need to use it in large quantities.
Expanded clay reviews
Alexander, 42 years old, Volgograd: “I used expanded clay for floor screed in the bathroom and toilet. Waterproofing "Osnovit", 7 cm layer filled with cement milk, cement-sand screed and tiles on top. Fine, warm."
Aleksey, 38 years old, Saratov: “I covered the roof of the attic of the old house with a layer of 20 cm with expanded clay. It became warmer, and the rain was not so audible.”
Expanded clay is a popular building material that is produced in the form of vitreous granules. For the manufacture of the material used special grades of clay. Expanded clay is a completely natural material, but it is made artificially. It is presented in a wide variety, which expands the scope of the material.
Usage
It is very popular today, and this is due to the fact that it has a long service life, it is easy to install and it has high soundproofing characteristics. It is these positive qualities that allowed expanded clay to become one of the most popular. Expanded clay is an inexpensive and easy-to-use building material.
In the photo - expanded clay for construction
It has a fairly wide scope, among which are:
- thermal insulation of floors, which is carried out due to low thermal conductivity;
- thermal insulation of the walls of loggias, attics and basements, since heat losses can be reduced by 70%;
- construction of residential buildings, industrial facilities, dachas and baths;
- design activities for personal plot: application of tiles, mounds;
- are actively involved in agriculture when introduced into the soil, it is possible to increase the growth rate of the plant;
- in the manufacture of filters in treatment facilities;
- in the production of lightweight concrete, when expanded clay granules act as a filler.
When choosing a quality bulk material, it is important to know what.
Properties
Before using, it is necessary to determine its main properties. The most important thing is thermal conductivity. For the material under consideration, it ranges from 0.10 W/(m*K) to 0.18 W/(m*K). Thus, to obtain thermal insulation properties mineral wool- expanded clay should be laid in a thicker layer. The thermal conductivity of mineral wool and expanded clay is in the ratio 1:4.
The next indicator that must be taken into account when buying ceramite is water absorption. It is very important, as it shows how the material will behave under the influence of water. It is a relatively stable material, and its water absorption is 8-20%.
It will also be interesting to know which expanded clay concrete blocks better for building a house:
For those who want to know what it is, you should follow the link.
Gravel
Gravel is a material that is presented in the form of rounded grains. Their size can reach 2-4 cm. They have a porous structure, and the grains are covered with a strong shell. The structure of the material contains closed cells that are filled with air.
In the image - expanded clay gravel
Due to this quality, expanded clay gravel can be used as a heater. For its manufacture, the method of swelling of light grades of clay is used. The resulting material has the best thermal insulation properties. But what are the differences between gravel and crushed stone, you can find out
Expanded clay crushed stone
Expanded clay crushed stone is a material that is obtained by crushing expanded soft clay. As a result, fractions 1-2 cm in size are obtained. The formed elements have an irregular shape, most often it is angular. If the composition of the heat insulator contains grains of this type only, then the thermal conductivity of expanded clay will be higher. But what is the thermal conductivity of expanded clay, is described in great detail in this
In the photo, expanded clay crushed stone:
Expanded clay sand
Expanded clay sand is a by-product that is formed when two main fractions are obtained. This material is presented in the form of grains. Their size reaches 0.5-1 cm. It has poor thermal insulation properties when compared with gravel and crushed stone.
In the photo - expanded clay sand
The presented variety of expanded clay is actively used as a porous heat insulator, which is part of the concrete screed.
Table - Characteristic various kinds expanded clay
| Bulk density grade | Top quality category | First category of quality | ||
| Strength grade | Strength grade | Cylinder compressive strength, MPa | ||
| 250 | P35 | 0,8 | P25 | 0,6 |
| 300 | P50 | 1 | P35 | 0,8 |
| 350 | P75 | 1,5 | P50 | 1 |
| 400 | P75 | 1,8 | P50 | 1,2 |
| 450 | P100 | 2,1 | P75 | 1,5 |
| 500 | P125 | 2,5 | P75 | 1,8 |
| 550 | P150 | 3,3 | P100 | 2,1 |
| 600 | P150 | 3,5 | P125 | 2,5 |
| 700 | P200 | 4,5 | P150 | 3,3 |
| 800 | P250 | 5,5 | P200 | 4,5 |
But what are the pros and cons of a dry floor screed and what reviews about such a building material exist. help you understand the information in this
What is the cost of a dry floor screed for square meter, is described in great detail in this
In any modern construction, foam is used, but what are specifications foam 50 mm, will help to understand the information from this
Manufacturers and prices
Today expanded clay is presented in a wide range. The main thing when choosing to pay attention to trusted manufacturers.
These include:
- Expanded clay - price 125 rubles per bag
- "Klinstroydetal" - the price is 250 rubles per bag;
- PSK combine - the price is 100 rubles per bag;
- "KSK Rzhevsky" - the price is 180 rubles per bag;
- "Meliz" - the price is 150 rubles per bag;
- "Experiment" - the price is 240 rubles per bag;
- Aleksinsky Expanded Clay Plant - price 190 rubles per bag;
- "Belkeramzit" - the price is 170 rubles per bag.
On the video - the properties of expanded clay for the floor:
Expanded clay is a popular material that is used as thermal insulation. It has excellent thermal conductivity, sound insulation and frost resistance. It is actively used in the insulation of wooden floors, in the manufacture of filters for wells or the production of concrete. It is necessary to buy material only from trusted manufacturers, so as not to worry about the quality of expanded clay.
The efficiency of even the most powerful and modern heating system is reduced to zero without high-quality and reliable thermal insulation, the main task of which is to reduce heat loss. Most often, expanded clay and mineral wool are used to insulate walls, roofs, floors and ceilings of residential buildings. Which of these materials does the job better?
The construction of buildings implies their mandatory insulation with the help of materials intended for this. From any of them, we require low thermal conductivity, light weight, soundproofing qualities, fire resistance, environmental friendliness and low cost. Before us are the two most popular heat insulators: expanded clay and mineral wool. Each of them has its own advantages and disadvantages, depending not only on their "innate" physical and technical parameters, but also on following the rules for installing thermal insulation.
Expanded clay: natural and environmentally friendly
This loose, porous and fairly light building material differs from its counterparts in that it is based on special clay rocks containing quartz. According to the dimensions and geometry of the granules, expanded clay is divided into:
- gravel (its granules have an elongated shape);
- crushed stone (with particles in the form of acute-angled cubes);
- sand (with granules, the size of which does not exceed five millimeters).
The quality of expanded clay determines the bulk density, bulk density, porosity and strength. It is believed that a larger number of pores provides a better heat-saving function of the insulation.
Describing the operational advantages of expanded clay, it should be highlighted:
- high ability to thermal insulation (even a small layer of expanded clay under the floor can raise the level of thermal insulation to a new quality level);
- light weight (due to this parameter, expanded clay insulation can be used at all stages of construction);
- enviable soundproofing (this parameter is extremely important for housing construction);
- non-susceptibility to decay, damage by rodents, damage by fungus and mold);
- strength and durability (expanded clay - chemically inert, resistant to mechanical and thermal damage);
- flowability (that is, the ability to fill spaces with such a heater having any shape and volume);
- environmental safety (it is an environmentally friendly material without toxic impurities);
- water resistance (even if moisture gets into the expanded clay layer, its granules due to ventilated gaps will act no worse than high-quality drainage);
- affordable price.
This inexpensive bulk insulation can be used to improve the quality of walls and floors, pitched roofs and basements. Thermal insulation of floors (and any other elements) of a residential building with expanded clay requires strict adherence to technology.
1. We clean the floor.
2. We expose beacons around the perimeter of the room.
3. Pour a layer of expanded clay (at least 150 mm thick) onto the sandy layer.
4. Level the surface with a fishing line.
5. We cover the expanded clay insulation with a waterproofing film.
6. Carefully pour the concrete solution.
7. Regularly wet the surface with water for three to four weeks to prevent cracks.
Video: What is expanded clay? Its pros and cons
This material is suitable for those who choose environmental friendliness and naturalness, who want to achieve interior spaces houses of an extremely comfortable microclimate, without fear of some reduction in internal areas due to a sufficiently thick expanded clay layer.
Minvata: practical and affordable
This soft material of large fibers is a product of scrap metal and carbon mineral alloys. Due to its durability, fire resistance and the ability to quickly install mineral wool (in slabs, rolls and mats various sizes) has become incredibly popular in the construction business. It is especially appreciated for its breathability, which makes it an ideal insulation for a wooden house.
Operational advantages of mineral wool:
- fire resistance;
- high soundproofing ability;
- non-susceptibility to deformation during temperature changes;
- acceptable price.
Disadvantages of mineral wool, which can be compensated for by proper handling of insulation and compliance with all installation technologies:
- fragility;
- insufficient resistance to moisture;
- insufficient environmental friendliness.
Material with a loose structure. It does not retain steam, so its inside must be vapor-proofed with a layer of foliated polyethylene. The seams formed at the border of the insulation fragments must be carefully sealed using ordinary metallized adhesive tape.
When insulating the floor with mineral wool, please note that its height will rise by about 50 mm. And remember: quality result you will achieve only if you follow the order of warming. As an example, we offer joist floor insulation system.
1. We tamp the soil.
2. We lay a layer of crushed stone, using bituminous mastic for its waterproofing.
3. We install brick columns (longitudinal interval - 2 m, transverse - 60 m), waterproofing them
4. We lay wooden logs.
5. At the bottom of each log we fix a windproof layer (first metal grid, then windproof film).
6. We lay mineral wool on the film between the lags.
7. We protect the insulation with a vapor barrier layer.
8. We seal the joints between the sheets.
9. We lay a wooden floor.
Video: What is mineral wool? Its pros and cons
Mineral wool - inexpensive, reliable and fast way make the room warm. Unfortunately, using this material, it is impossible to exclude the risk of not only harmful fumes, but also rodents in your home. Mineral wool is best suited for outdoor insulation.
Expanded clay or mineral wool?
Both materials have a relatively inexpensive cost, can boast a fairly simple installation process and a decent quality of insulation, so you should choose between expanded clay and mineral wool, focusing on specific building conditions, technical and financial capabilities. A good solution is a combination of these materials, as they complement each other well.
The choice of insulation for the floor: mineral wool, expanded clay, expanded polystyrene?
Thermal conductivity building materials- one of the defining parameters during construction, since maintaining a certain temperature regime indoors (residential - in particular) or the need to improve this mode is often the task of construction work.
The figure indicating the thermal conductivity of heaters is a very, very serious indicator that deserves attention.
About thermal conductivity
First of all, let's define what thermal conductivity is. This is, in fact, the ability to transfer heat from a warmer surface to a colder one. If we apply the definition to construction, it can be expressed as follows: it is the process of transferring heat from the premises to the street.
Accordingly, the higher the thermal conductivity, the easier and easier the material transfers heat from the apartment (house) to the outside. This means that we need to use materials with the lowest indicator of this parameter.
For calculation, when designing a structure, the thermal conductivity coefficient is used, which is a number indicating how much energy passes through a body with an area of \u200b\u200b1 m 2 and a thickness of 1 m per unit time - W / (m * K).
Data for most building materials are summarized in thermal conductivity tables indicating also the density of these materials, but since this parameter may vary depending on the composition of the material and the additives introduced by the manufacturer, there may be variations even within the same type.
The thermal conductivity of thermal insulation or other insulating materials, as a property, also allows you to choose the most suitable in terms of parameters, but at the same time a material that is more convenient to mount or an insulator with a smaller thickness when it is critical.
First, we give indicators specifically for building materials:
- silicate hollow brick - 0.66;
- ceramic hollow brick - 0.57;
- clinker brick - 0.8;
- solid brick - 0.6;
- glued laminated timber (150 x 150 mm) - 0.1;
- concrete (on sand) - 0.7;
- concrete (on gravel) - 1.3.
Now - the table of thermal conductivity of heaters:
Density comparison table (average):
Now let's look briefly at each of these materials.
Mineral wool
Mineral wool comes in several varieties, including depending on the raw materials from which it is produced. There are stone and slag mineral wool. The first is made from various rocks (basalt, limestone), and the second is made from metallurgical slag.
Most often, the first variety is used in construction, since it is more resistant to temperature extremes and high humidity.
Mineral wool is used as a heater for walls and ceilings, as well as for thermal insulation of internal partitions, there are also industrial varieties, for insulating pipelines, for example.
The thermal conductivity of mineral wool is from 0.035 W / (m * K) on average. For example, the thermal conductivity of basalt wool is 0.039 W / (m * K), while the required thickness of the insulating layer is at least 167 mm.
The coefficient of thermal conductivity of basalt wool is thus slightly above average, but clearly not the maximum for this material. The maximum thermal conductivity of Rockwool mineral wool in the comparison is also the highest among these materials.
The average price is from 1000 rubles / roll (for example, Rockwool Multirock Roll mineral wool). The thermal conductivity of Rockwool mineral wool is from 0.035 W / (m * K).
Penoplex
Penoplex is an extruded polystyrene foam suitable for use both for construction needs (thermal insulation of foundations, floors, walls and roofs), and for industrial applications, including in road and airfield construction.
The coefficient of thermal conductivity of penoplex averages from 0.28 W / (m * K), for plates of different densities, this indicator may differ slightly. Comparison of the thermal conductivity of foam with a density of 30 kg / m 3 and 45 kg / m 3 shows almost no difference when different density for compression and bending.
Given the indicated thermal conductivity of Penofol, it is more often used if complex insulating material is needed than just as thermal insulation.
The price of Penofol depends on the thickness (supplied according to the standard from 3 to 10 mm thick, but for special conditions can be up to 40 mm thick). The average minimum thickness of one-sided foiling is from 145 rubles / m 2, its own version of the maximum thickness of 40 mm - from 2800 rubles / m 2.
Polyurethane foam (sprayed)
Polyurethane foam - has an average coefficient of thermal conductivity, the smallest among the described materials.
Also, a feature of its application is the technique of seamless spraying, which allows solving heat-insulating problems with a minimum layer of insulation and, if necessary, achieving different densities. Non-toxic, resistant to fungi and mold.
The coefficient of thermal conductivity of polyurethane foam is from 0.023 W / (m * K), and the cost depends on the density of spraying and the area of coverage. So, spraying 100 mm (maximum layer) on an area of more than 1000 m 2 will cost from 1320 rubles / m 3.
Expanded clay
Expanded clay is a bulk insulation, which creates sufficient variability in thermal conductivity, since its density can also be different. Depending on the size of the expanded clay granule, it is divided into:
- gravel;
- crushed stone;
- sand.
As a result, it is necessary to choose a material with maximum size granules, since this means an increase in its porosity (respectively, a decrease in thermal conductivity). The thermal conductivity of expanded clay can also change due to its hygroscopic properties. The use of the material requires additional waterproofing.
The thermal conductivity of expanded clay varies from 0.10 W / (m * K) to 0.18 W / (m * K), that is, in order to achieve the thermal insulation properties of mineral wool, the expanded clay layer must be thicker. The thermal conductivity of expanded clay and mineral wool is approximately 1:4, i.e. the difference is 2.5 times.
The cost of expanded clay on average is from 180 rubles / bag (weighing 25 kg).
Laminate
Laminate is a well-known material as a floor covering, but it can also be an independent heat-insulating material, but the thermal conductivity of the laminate is too high - 0.1 W / (m * K). Moreover, additional thermal insulation is often mounted under the laminate (by the way, mineral wool or expanded clay can be used here).
However, when compared with other floor coverings, then only cork floors have less thermal conductivity. Laminate is often recommended as a "warm" floor covering, that is, its high thermal conductivity is used for additional heat transfer to the room.
Because of this, the price of the laminate in the framework of this article is not considered.
About thermal conductivity (video)
COMPARISON OF ELECTRIC AND MINERAL WOOL
Expanded clay or mineral wool? PRICE, CHARACTERISTICS, WHERE IS IT BETTER TO APPLY LECALE OR MINERAL WOOL?
I propose to compare such heaters as expanded clay and mineral wool. These heaters are the least expensive. And today, the cost is the first thing customers pay attention to during construction and the choice of building materials. This different materials their structure and have different possibilities in application. They also have different thermal conductivity.| against |  |
? ? ? ? |
Scope of expanded clay or mineral wool
I propose to first make a fundamental choice between the materials in this table.| region | Warming | Warming | Warming | fill | fill | Insulation | Warming | filling | Easy | Backfill | drainage |
| note- | stingrays | gender | facade, | sexes | floors | pipes, | ventilated | niches, pits, | ceramic concrete | wet areas, | material for |
| opinions | roofing | attic | walls | coupler | ventilation | facades | partitions | zitoconcrete | expensive, etc. | gardening | |
| expanded clay | — | + | — | + | + | — | — | + | + | + | + |
| mineral wool | + | + | + | — | — | + | + | + (dry!) | — | — | — |
Comparison of prices for expanded clay and mineral wool
- The price of expanded clay in Kharkiv produced by KhKZ 480 UAH / cube
- The price of mineral wool depends on the density and fluctuates then 680 to 1200 UAH/cube
As you can see, expanded clay wins relative to the price! Data for 2013.
Thermal insulation characteristics of expanded clay and mineral wool
Here, of course, the championship will be for mineral wool. It has a much wider temperature range of application. Mineral wool easily withstands +300 degrees, and in some cases up to +600. Therefore, it can be used in thermal insulation of high-temperature surfaces. The melting point of basalt wool starts at +700 degrees. This material is non-flammable. Expanded clay is also not combustible, but cannot be used in such wide temperature ranges. Heat transfer coefficient with the same thickness of insulation expanded clay 0.1 and cotton wool 0.04. And this is at a standard density of mineral wool. And if you use high-density mineral wool, then the heat transfer will decrease even more!Weight of expanded clay and mineral wool
Specific gravity of a cubic meter of expanded clay from 350 to 750 kg. It all depends on the moisture content of the material, the size of the fraction, and the manufacturer. The specific gravity of dry mineral wool is from 40 to 80 kg per cubic meter. Of course, mineral wool has less load on structures and much better thermal insulation!Harm of mineral wool for health. Environmental friendliness of expanded clay.
- Mineral wool is very harmful to health. It consists of fine fibers and forms a flying dust that is not visible to the naked eye. Such dust has an inorganic basis and therefore is not able to spread and be excreted from the body.
- Expanded clay is environmentally friendly material!
