Categories
Insulation may be categorized by its composition (material), by its form (structural or non-structural), or by its functional mode (conductive, radiative, convective). Non-structural forms include batts, blankets, loose-fill, spray foam, and panels. Structural forms include insulating concrete forms, structured panels, and straw bales. Sometimes a thermally reflective surface called a radiant barrier is added to a material to reduce the transfer of heat through radiation as well as conduction. Following is a table of materials, most of which have been used for insulating buildings.
| Material | m2·K/(W·in) | ft2·°F·h/(BTU·in) | m·K/W |
|---|---|---|---|
| Vacuum insulated panel | 7.04 !5.28–8.8 | 3000 !R-30–R-50 | |
| Silica aerogel | 1.76 !1.76 | 1000 !R-10 | |
| Polyurethane rigid panel (CFC/HCFC expanded) initial | 1.32 !1.23–1.41 | 0700 !R-7–R-8 | |
| Polyurethane rigid panel (CFC/HCFC expanded) aged 5–10 years | 1.1 !1.10 | 0625 !R-6.25 | |
| Polyurethane rigid panel (pentane expanded) initial | 1.2 !1.20 | 0680 !R-6.8 | |
| Polyurethane rigid panel (pentane expanded) aged 5–10 years | 0.97 !0.97 | 0550 !R-5.5 | |
| Foil faced Polyurethane rigid panel (pentane expanded) | 45-48 | ||
| Foil-faced polyisocyanurate rigid panel (pentane expanded ) initial | 1.2 !1.20 | 0680 !R-6.8 | 55 |
| Foil-faced polyisocyanurate rigid panel (pentane expanded) aged 5–10 years | 0.97 !0.97 | 0550 !R-5.5 | |
| Polyisocyanurate spray foam | 1.11 !0.76–1.46 | 0430 !R-4.3–R-8.3 | |
| Closed-cell polyurethane spray foam | 1.055 !0.97–1.14 | 0550 !R-5.5–R-6.5 | |
| Phenolic spray foam | 1.04 !0.85–1.23 | 0480 !R-4.8–R-7 | |
| Thinsulate clothing insulation | 1.01 !1.01 | 0575 !R-5.75 | |
| Urea-formaldehyde panels | 0.97 !0.88–1.06 | 0500 !R-5–R-6 | |
| Urea foam | 0.924 !0.92 | 0525 !R-5.25 | |
| Extruded expanded polystyrene (XPS) high-density | 0.915 !0.88–0.95 | 0500 !R-5–R-5.4 | 26-40 |
| Polystyrene board | 0.88 !0.88 | 0500 !R-5.00 | |
| Phenolic rigid panel | 0.79 !0.70–0.88 | 0400 !R-4–R-5 | |
| Urea-formaldehyde foam | 0.755 !0.70–0.81 | 0400 !R-4–R-4.6 | |
| High-density fiberglass batts | 0.755 !0.63–0.88 | 0360 !R-3.6–R-5 | |
| Extruded expanded polystyrene (XPS) low-density | 0.725 !0.63–0.82 | 0360 !R-3.6–R-4.7 | |
| Icynene loose-fill (pour fill) | 0.7 !0.70 | 0400 !R-4 | |
| Molded expanded polystyrene (EPS) high-density | 0.7 !0.70 | 0400 !R-4.2 | 22-32 |
| Air-entrained concrete | 0.686 !0.69 | 0390 !R-3.90 | |
| Home Foam | 0.686 !0.69 | 0390 !R-3.9 | |
| Fiberglass batts | 0.655 !0.55–0.76 | 0310 !R-3.1–R-4.3 | |
| Cotton batts (Blue Jean insulation) | 0.65 !0.65 | 0370 !R-3.7 | |
| Molded expanded polystyrene (EPS) low-density | 0.65 !0.65 | 0370 !R-3.85 | |
| Icynene spray | 0.63 !0.63 | 0360 !R-3.6 | |
| Open-cell polyurethane spray foam | 0.63 !0.63 | 0360 !R-3.6 | |
| Cardboard | 0.61 !0.52–0.7 | 0300 !R-3–R-4 | |
| Rock and slag wool batts | 0.6 !0.52–0.68 | 0300 !R-3–R-3.85 | |
| Cellulose loose-fill | 0.595 !0.52–0.67 | 0300 !R-3–R-3.8 | |
| Cellulose wet-spray | 0.595 !0.52–0.67 | 0300 !R-3–R-3.8 | |
| Rock and slag wool loose-fill | 0.545 !0.44–0.65 | 0250 !R-2.5–R-3.7 | |
| Fiberglass loose-fill | 0.545 !0.44–0.65 | 0250 !R-2.5–R-3.7 | |
| Polyethylene foam | 0.52 !0.52 | 0300 !R-3 | |
| Cementitious foam | 0.52 !0.35–0.69 | 0200 !R-2–R-3.9 | |
| Perlite loose-fill | 0.48 !0.48 | 0270 !R-2.7 | |
| Wood panels, such as sheathing | 0.44 !0.44 | 0250 !R-2.5 | 9 |
| Fiberglass rigid panel | 0.44 !0.44 | 0250 !R-2.5 | |
| Vermiculite loose-fill | 0.4 !0.38–0.42 | 0213 !R-2.13–R-2.4 | |
| Vermiculite | 0.375 !0.38 | 0213 !R-2.13 | 16-17 |
| Straw bale | 0.26 !0.26 | 0145 !R-1.45 | 16-22 |
| Papercrete | 0260 !R-2.6-R-3.2 | ||
| Softwood (most) | 0.25 !0.25 | 0141 !R-1.41 | 7.7 |
| Wood chips and other loose-fill wood products | 0.18 !0.18 | 0100 !R-1 | |
| Snow | 0.18 !0.18 | 0100 !R-1 | |
| Hardwood (most) | 0.12 !0.12 | 0071 !R-0.71 | 5.5 |
| Brick | 0.03 !0.030 | 0020 !R-0.2 | 1.3-1.8 |
| Glass | 0.024 !0.025 | 0024 !R-0.14 | |
| Poured concrete | 0.014 !0.014 | 0008 !R-0.08 | 0.43-0.87 |
Read more about this topic: Building Insulation Materials
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