Insulation Materials

Thermal and acoustic insulation products including fiberglass, mineral wool, foam boards, spray foam, and natural options.

8 articles

Insulation Materials4 min read

"Radiant Barrier and Reflective Insulation: Aluminum Foil, Climate Zone Effectiveness, and Installation Standards"

"Guide to radiant barrier insulation using aluminum foil with 97% reflectivity and emittance below 0.05. Covers ASTM C1313 and C1224 standards, perforated vs solid foil, DOE climate zone recommendations, and the requirement for a minimum 19mm air gap."

Insulation Materials4 min read

"Aerogel Insulation: Highest R-Value Material at R-10 to R-14 Per Inch, Space Applications, and Building Use"

"Aerogel insulation delivers R-10 to R-14 per inch, the highest of any insulation material. Covers Samuel Kistler's 1931 invention, silica aerogel properties, Aspen Aerogels Spaceloft, Cabot Nanogel, NASA Mars rover use, and USD 20-50 per square foot cost."

Insulation Materials4 min read

"Natural Fiber Insulation: Sheep Wool, Hemp, Wood Fiber, Cotton Denim, and Cork R-Values and Properties"

"Guide to natural insulation materials covering sheep wool (R-3.5-4.0/inch), hemp (R-3.5/inch), wood fiber (Gutex, Steico), recycled denim (UltraTouch, R-3.7/inch), and cork (R-3.5/inch). Cost comparison and sustainability analysis."

Insulation Materials4 min read

"Cellulose Insulation Guide: Recycled Paper Fiber, Blown-In, Wet-Spray, Dense-Pack Methods, and R-Values"

"Cellulose insulation made from 85% recycled paper with borate fire retardant offers R-3.2-3.8/inch. Covers GreenFiber, Applegate, Cocoon brands, blown-in dry, wet-spray, dense-pack methods, and lowest embodied energy of common insulation types."

Insulation Materials4 min read

"Rigid Foam Insulation Boards: XPS vs EPS vs Polyiso, R-Values, Thermal Drift, and Below-Grade Performance"

"Guide to rigid foam board insulation comparing XPS (R-5.0/inch), EPS (R-3.6-4.4/inch), and polyisocyanurate (R-5.7-6.5/inch). Covers Owens Corning Foamular, Dow Styrofoam, Thermax, moisture absorption, and blowing agent evolution."

Insulation Materials4 min read

"Spray Polyurethane Foam Insulation: Open-Cell vs Closed-Cell SPF, R-Values, Chemistry, and Installation"

"Spray foam insulation guide comparing open-cell (R-3.5/inch) and closed-cell (R-6.5/inch) SPF. Covers two-component chemistry, blowing agent GWP evolution from HFC to HFO, Icynene, Demilec, Lapolla brands, and re-entry time requirements."

Insulation Materials4 min read

"Mineral Wool and Rockwool Insulation: Complete Guide to R-Value, Fire Resistance to 1000°C, and Sound Absorption"

"Mineral wool insulation (rockwool/stone wool) offers R-3.3 to R-4.2 per inch, fire resistance to 1000°C+, and NRC up to 1.0. Covers ROCKWOOL Comfortbatt and Safe'n'Sound products, manufacturing from basalt, and applications."

Insulation Materials5 min read

"Fiberglass Insulation Properties: Owens Corning Pink, R-Value Ratings, Batt vs Blown-In and Recycled Content"

"Complete guide to fibreglass insulation covering Owens Corning pink, R-value ratings of R-2.2 to R-2.7 per inch, batt versus roll versus blown-in types, formaldehyde-free binder technology and 40 to 60 percent recycled glass content."