When it comes to insulation, people usually talk about two types: thermal insulation and acoustic insulation. Thermal insulation is meant for radiant and conductive heat. Common forms of heat insulation are foam insulation, reflective barriers, and blanket. Moreover, you can find them in both residential and industrial applications where high-temperature insulation is vital for safe operations.
Acoustic insulation, on the other hand, absorbs or blocks sound coming from loud equipment using absorbers and barriers. You can find them in industrial settings as there are noisy machinery and sound booths used. They are also used in other spaces where the elimination of sound is required. Further in this blog, we will be learning more about common types of thermal and acoustic insulation.
Common types of thermal insulation
There are two major types of heat-resistant materials: insulation and reflection. Insulation keeps the heat confined to a space while minimizing the conductive and convective heat flow. One of the best examples of thermal insulation is the puffy material used in the walls of residential buildings. It prevents heat loss during colder months of the year.
The material required for heat protection will depend on the application. Following are some of the most common types of heat protection materials. All of them are highly effective for insulation, reflecting, or both.
- Mineral wool
It can also refer to glass wool, basalt Rockwool, or slag wool. Mineral wool is expensive however it is extremely effective at insulating heat.
- Fiberglass
Fiberglass can insulate or reflect heat effectively. However, like mineral wool, it can be hazardous if the glass particles are inhaled or enter the eyes.
- Polyurethane foam
Polyurethane foam is a soft, flexible, lightweight, moisture-resistant, and fire-resistant material.
- Ceramic fibers
Ceramic fibers can either insulate or reflect the heat however they are most commonly used in heavy duty-industrial applications as they are resistant to thermal shock.
Common types of acoustic insulation
When it comes to acoustic insulation, there are two types of it: absorbers and barriers.
Absorbers
The absorbers take the sound in and trap sound waves, reducing the amount of noise in the space to improve the acoustic conditions. They can be applied to walls, ceilings, floors, and even on the objects inside a room.
Barriers
An acoustic barrier blocks the noise from traveling from one place to another. They are used in conjunction with absorbers and are common in soundproofing applications including engine housing, firewalls, and more. The substrates are used to make barriers and they are denser than those used for absorbers. The best acoustic isolation supplier in Kuwait can provide you with insulation materials. These materials can do the best job of redirecting or absorbing the sound. Your choice of material may depend on your budget, application, and any restrictions about the size and weight of the material.
All in all
In the simplest words, we can say that acoustic insulation blocks sound and heat insulation blocks heat. With this, we are ending this post here. At Uni Group, you get the best acoustic solution in Kuwait. Moreover, you get products that can meet the requirements of any application. To learn more about acoustic and thermal insulation, feel free to get in touch with the experts.