Insulation

This article will discuss materials used for thermal insulation systems, including the thermal insulation and accessories (protective jacketing), in the chemical process industries. It will explain how thermal insulation works, its uses, and the types of materials available for insulation. The article highlights new materials as well as old materials that are becoming more widely used due to recently published ASTM standards. In addition, a method (based on software developed by the U.S. Dept. of Energy) to determine the economic thickness of insulation is provided. Finally, the article briefly discusses the state of corrosion under insulation — recent findings and tools to help prevent its occurrence.