COMPARITIVE BETWEEN VARIOUS INSULATION SOLUTIONS

PARAMETERS EPS / XPS PUF NBR WITH PVC EPDM FIBREGLASS PE / XLPE
It is produced by A two-component Nitrile butadiene EPDM rubber (ethylene Fiberglass is a strong Polyethylene is the most
molding sprayed styrene mixture composed rubber (NBR) is a NBR is propylene diene mono lightweight material and is Common plastic. Many
resin polymerization of isocyanate and actually a complex family of mer rubber), a type used for many products. kinds of polyethylene are
under pressure polyol resin comes unsaturated copolymers of of synthetic rubber,is Although it is not as strong known, with most having
(Extruded Polystyrene – together at the tip of acrylonitrile, butadiene and an elastomer and stiff as composites the chemical
XPS) or by pressing a gun, and forms an Poly vinyl chloride (PVC). characterized by a wide based on carbon fiber, it is formula (C2H4)nH2.
Chemical Structure polystyrene grains into expanding foam that is NBR is popular in a wide range of applications. less brittle, and its raw
molds expanded under sprayed into cavities, variety of application areas The material is Non materials are much cheaper.
steam or in hot water or through holes requiring oil, fuel, and Polar - Does not react
with the help of steam drilled in into chemical resistance. with water
again (Expanded a cavity of a finished However, the material is
Polystyrene – XPS) wall. Polar - Reacts with water
has polar reacts with polar
Semi closed cell. Moisture Semi closed cell. Closed cell. Moisture cannot Closed cell. Moisture Open cell. Moisture can Closed cell. Moisture
can penetrate. Needs Moisture can penetrate. Needs no Vapour cannot penetrate. Needs migrate freely. Needs high cannot penetrate. Needs
Cellular Structure Vapour barrier. penetrate. Needs barrier. no Vapour barrier. quality Vapour barrier. no Vapour barrier.
Vapour barrier.
Low ‘µ’ Value (34-100). Low ‘µ’ Value (200). Nitrile Rubber has a EPDM has a homogenous Worst ‘µ’ Value (1). Extremely PE has a homogenous
Very poor resistance to Very poor resistance to homogenous Vapour Barrier Vapour Barrier on poor resistance to water Vapour Barrier on account
water vapour ingress. water vapour ingress. on account of its completely account of its completely vapour ingress. Needs external of its closed cell structure.
Needs external vapour Needs external vapour closed cell structure. The closed cell structure. The vapour barrier (difficult &
barrier (difficult & takes barrier (difficult & takes Water Vapour Permeability of Water Vapour takes longer time for
Water Vapour
longer time for longer time for NBR is 0.3 Perm.Inch . Permeability of NBR is installation Increase in
Transmission installation Increase in installation Increase in 0.1 Perm.Inch regardless Thermal Conductivity ‘λ’ over a
Thermal Conductivity ‘λ’ Thermal Conductivity ‘λ’ of the site condition. This period of time is very high
over a period of time is over a period of time is means excellent Long
very high very high Term efficiency and
performance.
Extremely high. One Extremely high. One Less than 10% even after Less than 3% even after Extremely high. One needs to Less than 10% even after
needs to just immerse needs to just immerse 28days immersion in water. 28days immersion in just immerse FG in water to 28days immersion in
Water Absorption EPS in water to see the PUF in water to see the water. see the effect. water.
effect. effect.
Poor fire resistance Poor fire resistance. Meets CLASS “0” as per Meets CLASS “0” as per Meets CLASS “0” as per BS- Very Poor fire resistance.
Releases toxic gases on BS-476 Part 6 & CLASS “1” BS-476 Part 6 & CLASS 476 Part 6 & CLASS “1” as Not only the basic material
burning. as per BS-476 Part 7. “1” as per BS-476 Part 7. per BS-476 Part 7. does not meet the Class O
Fire Resistance The Class 1 rating indicates a The Class 1 rating standard (w/o foil) but also
“Nil” surface spread of flame. indicates a “Nil” surface aids in flame spread.
spread of flame.
Density 24 Kg/cum 24 to 32 Kg/cum 40 to 60 Kg /cum 40 to 60 Kg /cum 24 to 32 Kg /cum 24 Kg /cum
Not weather resistant. Not weather resistant. Not weather resistant. Only weather resistant Not weather resistant. Not weather resistant.
Cracks occur due to Cracks occur due to Cracks occur due to material. Disintegrates with exposure to Cracks occur due to
Weather Resistant prolonged exposure to prolonged exposure to prolonged exposure to Sun environment. prolonged exposure to Sun
Sun and rain. Sun and rain. and rain. and rain.
 PARAMETERS EPS / XPS
Nitrosamine
No
content
UIC - Under Due to moisture
Insulation migration leads to UIC
Corrosion
Heavy deterioration in
thermal properties with
Ageing time on account of humid
conditions
Release toxic fumes
when burn. Mould and
Health & Safety mildew growth prevalent
Even though the thermal
conductivity of EPS is
0.04W/mDegC, the
Thickness due to thickness required is
changing thermal higher on account of
Conductivity increasing K value with
time.
The long run they work
out to be costly.
Savings
Required Insulation
Space Thickness is more.
Needs special tools and
use coal tar Being rigid,
even with best installation
Installation practices the joints are
always prone for water
vapour ingress.
Possible
Alterations
-40 to 70 Deg C
Temp range
PUF NBR WITH PVC EPDM FIBREGLASS PE / XLPE
Yes upto 20000 ppb.
No No No No
Carcinogenic
Due to moisture UIC does not take place UIC does not take place Due to moisture migration Due to moisture migration
migration leads to UIC leads to UIC leads to UIC
Heavy deterioration in Temperature variations and Temperature variations Heavy deterioration in thermal Temperature variations and
thermal properties with humidity have no effect on and humidity have no properties with time on humidity have no effect on
time on account of the cellular structure. effect on the cellular account of humid conditions the cellular structure.
humid conditions structure.
Release toxic fumes Has PVC which release Totally safe. Does not Release toxic fumes when Release toxic fumes when
when burn. Mould and chloride compounds during have any fibers or burn. Mould and mildew burn. Mould and mildew
mildew growth fire. Material not anti harmful material. Basic growth prevalent growth prevalent
prevalent fungal. Needs additives for material is antifungal.
those properties. No toxic fumes released.
Even though the thermal Because of higher Mu value. Because of higher Mu Even though the thermal Because of higher Mu
conductivity of PUF is Hence thickness required is value. Hence thickness conductivity of EPS is value. Hence thickness
0.027W/mDegC, the lower as K value stays required is lower as K 0.03W/mDegC, the thickness required is lower as K
thickness required is stable over a period of time. value stays stable over a required is higher on value stays stable over a
higher on account Thermal conductivity is period of time. Thermal account of increasing K period of time. thermal
increasing K value with 0.033W/mDegC at 0 deg C conductivity is value with time. conductivity is
time. 0.034W/mDegC at 0 Deg 0.038W/mDegC for high
C density.
The long run they The installed cost of NBR is The installed cost of The long run they work out The long run they work
work out to be costly. comparable with PUF / PIR EPDM is higher to be costly. out to be costly.
insulation. comparable with NBR
insulation. In long run it
gives huge savings on
account energy savings
and almost no
maintenance cost.
Required Insulation Required Insulation Required Insulation Required Insulation Required Insulation
Thickness is more. Thickness is less. Space Thickness is less. Space Thickness is more. Thickness is more.
Saving. Saving.
Needs special tools and No special tools & No special tools & It not user friendly as it Needs special tools and use
use coal tar Being rigid, machinery is required machinery is required causes irritation on the skin coal tar Being rigid, even
even with best of the worker. Also, it has to with best installation
installation practices the be covered with cloth / foil or practices the joints are
joints are always prone perforated Al sheet to prevent always prone for water
for water vapour movement of fiber in the air vapour ingress.
ingress.
Very difficult Allows changes in line very Allows changes in line Possible Very difficult
easily very easily
-80 to 110 Deg C -40 to 105 Deg C -200 to 125 Deg C (150 -18 to 300 Deg C -68 to 80 Deg C
Deg C intermittent)