Synthetic Mineral Fibres 1

SYNTHETIC MINERAL FIBRES

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Material description

Synthetic mineral fibre (SMF) is a material comprising two elements Joined together to

form a thermal and sound insulation product. The fibrous or woolen material acts as a supporting

mesh for the molten raw material which determines the type of SMF (Harrison, 2023). Blowing

hot molten rock to the woolen fibre results in a rockwool SMF while blowing hot molten glass to

the fibrous mesh results in a glasswool SMF (Bilske et al., 2024). Rockwool and glasswool are

commonly used for normal sound and thermal insulation functions in manufacturing and

construction industries. The third form of SMF is refractory ceramic fibres (RCF). The material

comprises kaolin as the main raw material, which naturally occurs as an alumino-silicate clay

(Kamara, Wang and Ai, 2020). RCF is used for high performance and high temperature thermal

lagging in industrial heaters, kilns, and furnaces. RCF is also used for insulation in construction,

glass, ceramic, aluminium, steel, petrochemical, marine, and automotive insulation (Harrison,

2023). Australian construction and industrial sectors use rockwool and glasswool more

frequently for insulation functions than RCF.

The synthetic mineral fibres have several functional properties that suits their application

in thermal insulation. Blowing hot molten raw material on the fibrous material traps air in the

material. The trapped air masses prevent or reduces heat transfer through the material making it

suitable in heat insulation in construction and industrial applications (Harrison, 2023). The

fibrous material in the synthetic mineral fibres dissipate sound energy through the material, thus

reducing sound movement across the material. The air masses in the material also absorb sound

energy within the material hindering its transference to the other end of the material. These two

elements qualify synthetic mineral fibres as a suitable sound insulator (Harrison, 2023).

Synthetic mineral fibres also resist chemical reactions and are thus suitable for use in corrosive
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settings such as industrial applications. The material’s lightweight and durability also qualify its

application in industrial and construction settings. The synthetic mineral fibres are also supplied

in bonded and unbonded forms. The unbonded forms allows for custom onsite SMF formation

resulting in different shapes and sizes according to user preference. The bonded format can also

be cut into different shapes and sizes for use in different industrial and construction applications.

Verstility, durability, fire resistance, and insulation properties makes synthetic mineral fires

suitable for applications in construction and industrial settings.

Synthetic mineral fibres have several disadvantages that limit their application in several

areas. International Agency for Research into Cancer ranked synthetic mineral fibres in category

2B. This category hosts substances that pose carcinogenic hazards to humans (Dobecka,

Konieczko and Czerczak, 2020). This classification followed previous research on asbestos in

the nineteen-seventies, which raised an alarm on SMF’s risk to human health. Rock wool and

glasswool pose several health hazards on humans including dryness, tickling, and discomfort in

the respiratory tract, throat, and nose. The effects are severe on people suffering from bronchitis

and hay fever. Rockwool and glasswool may also cause irritation to the eyes and skin,

particularly in areas clothes rub the skin (Dobecka, Konieczko and Czerczak, 2020). Refractory

ceramic fibres have the potential to cause cancer when inhaled. RCF materials lacking binders

propergate inhalable fibre particles, which cause upper respiratory tract, eyes and throat

irritation. RCF also causes skin irritation which may result in skin reddening that reduces over

time (Sattler et al., 2020). These health hazards render the SMF materials unsafe for use,

requiring the use of personal safety equipment and following regulations on their usage to

minimize human health risks.

Revision on SMF health risks reclassified materials and their application

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Extensive research through the nineteen-nineties led to IARC’s review on SMF materials

in 2001. The revision repositioned rockwool and glasswool to category 3. This reclassification

followed the establishment of biosolubility properties of rockwool and glasswool materials

(Houghton and de Reydellet, 2023), which allows quick dissolution of material in bodily fluids

and dissipation from the lungs. This category entails materials that do not pose carcinogenic

risks. The reclassification placed RCF in category 2B, terming it a hazardous material capable of

causing cancer (Moore et al., 2022). RCF poses this risk because it does not break down in the

lungs. This reclassification allows for rockwool and glasswool usage in thermal and acoustic

insulation along safety work place standards to reduce other health hazards the materials pose on

users.

Polycrystalline wool (PCW) is alternative materials that can replace RCF since it has

similar functional properties. PCW possesses high resistance to temperatures upto one thousand

degrees Celsius and above. High resistance to temperatures makes this material suitable for high

performance and high temperature thermal lagging in industrial heaters, kilns, and furnaces, thus

suiting as an alternative material for RCF (Royo et al., 2019). The material is also immune to

most types of chemicals and can be applied to industrial processes. It also provides a risk-free

health property compared to RCF (Royo et al., 2019). This is why the material is a comparable

replacement to RCF; it eliminates the carcinogenic risk associated with RCF. The

aforementioned benefits position PCW ahead of RCF, allowing the materials to be used with no

loss in functionality qualities and guaranteeing health safety.

Polycrystalline wool also has disadvantages that may make its usability as a replacement

material for RCF difficult. The material is not readily available and as result, procuring and

sourcing for the material may pose a challenge to users (Abu and Naebe, 2023). Purchasing
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PCW is also costlier than RCF, this may hinder its adoption among users with a tight budget.

Reduced availability and higher cost of PCW leaves users with non-fibrous alternatives, which

may be cheaper but less effective.

Synthetic mineral fibres exist in three forms. Rockwool and glasswool comprise a fibrous

mesh that supports blown molten rock or glass. Bassalt is the common rock used for rockwools.

Despite the classification of SMF materials as carcinogenic materials in category 2B in nineteen-

seventies, an IARC health hazard material classification reclassified rockwool and glasswool as

safe materials in category 3. RCF retained its position as a possibly carcinogenic substance

exposing its users to the risk of developing cancer. PCW is an alternative for RCF since it has

similar functionality properties, including high thermal resistance, resistance to chemical

reactions and durability. These qualities qualify PCW for use in high performance and high

thermal resistance applications in industrial settings like RCF. However, the material’s high cost

and unavailability reduces its chances for full adoption as an RCF replacement. SafeWork

Australia recommends the use of protective equipment and measures when using SMF materials

to reduce health hazards.

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Reference List

Abu and Naebe, M. (2023). Material Extrusion of Wool Waste/Polycaprolactone with Improved
Tensile Strength and Biodegradation. Polymers, 15(16), pp.3439–3439.
doi:https://doi.org/10.3390/polym15163439.

Bilske, S., Glass, L., Scribner, K. and Nony, P. (2024). Synthetic vitreous fibers. Elsevier
eBooks, pp.865–873. doi:https://doi.org/10.1016/b978-0-12-824315-2.00950-7.

Dobecka, M.K., Konieczko, K. and Czerczak, S. (2020). Occupational risk resulting from
exposure to mineral wool when installing insulation in buildings. International Journal of
Occupational Medicine and Environmental Health, 33(6), pp.757–769.
doi:https://doi.org/10.13075/ijomeh.1896.01637.

Harrison, P.T.C. (2023). Refractory Ceramic Fiber (Alumino Silicate Wool). Patty’s Toxicology,
pp.1–20. doi:https://doi.org/10.1002/0471125474.tox014.pub3.

Houghton, C. and de Reydellet, A. (2023). Fiberglass (Glass Wool). Patty’s Toxicology, pp.1–8.
doi:https://doi.org/10.1002/0471125474.tox015.pub2.

Kamara, S., Wang, W. and Ai, C. (2020). Fabrication of Refractory Materials from Coal Fly
Ash, Commercially Purified Kaolin, and Alumina Powders. Materials, 13(15), pp.3406–3406.
doi:https://doi.org/10.3390/ma13153406.

Moore, D.W., Ruffle, B., McQueen, A.D., Sagar Thakali and Edwards, D.A. (2022).
Frameworks for screening and risk management of chemicals and advanced materials: A critical
review. doi:https://doi.org/10.1002/ieam.4590.

Royo, P., Acevedo, L., Ferreira, V.J., García-Armingol, T., López-Sabirón, A.M. and Ferreira,
G. (2019). High-temperature PCM-based thermal energy storage for industrial furnaces installed
in energy-intensive industries. Energy, 173, pp.1030–1040.
doi:https://doi.org/10.1016/j.energy.2019.02.118.
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Sattler, T., Pomberger, R., Schimek, J. and Vollprecht, D. (2020). Mineral Wool Waste in
Austria, Associated Health Aspects and Recycling Options. Volume 09 - March 2020, (9),
pp.174–180. doi:https://doi.org/10.31025/2611-4135/2020.13904.