Ceramic fibers are a class of materials known for their high temperature resistance, low thermal conductivity, and low heat storage. These unique properties make ceramic fiber textiles invaluable for insulation applications. There are several common forms of ceramic fiber textile products, including ceramic fiber rope, ceramic fiber tape, and ceramic fiber cloth. Each type has particular benefits that make them suitable for specific high temperature insulating needs.
Ceramic Fiber Rope
Ceramic fiber rope is one of the most widely used forms of ceramic fiber textile. It consists of spun ceramic fibers twisted into a flexible rope-like form. Ceramic fiber rope can withstand continuous use temperatures up to 2300°F. With its high strength design, ceramic fiber rope handles easily and conforms well to fill gaps and voids.
Ceramic fiber rope has many advantages that make it an excellent insulation choice. It is very resilient and does not break down under compression like other insulations. Ceramic fiber rope maintains its strength and low thermal conductivity even after exposure to high heat. It is also unaffected by most chemicals and water. These properties allow ceramic fiber rope to last longer than other insulations in demanding industrial environments.
Common applications of ceramic fiber rope include furnace door seals, boiler seals, kiln linings, and expansion joint seals. Its combination of flexibility, resiliency, and high temperature performance make ceramic fiber rope the product of choice for demanding heat processing and power generation applications.
Ceramic Fiber Tape
Ceramic fiber tape is a woven textile tape made from ceramic fibers. It shares many of the same properties as ceramic fiber rope but comes in a flexible tape form. Ceramic fiber tape handles temperatures up to 2300°F continuously. It is often coated on one or both sides with a foil or vermiculite coating to create a cleanable surface.
The tape form lends itself well to wrapping conduits, pipes, tanks, and other cylindrical objects that require insulation. It can be wrapped in multiple layers to increase the insulation thickness as needed. Ceramic fiber tape holds its form and will not sag or separate. It is an excellent insulator for high temperature piping, exhaust systems, and tanks.
Ceramic fiber tape can also be cut and folded into custom shapes to insulate irregular surfaces. Common applications include furnace door linings, oven door gaskets, expansion joint seals, and kiln linings. Its combination of conformability and resilient structure in a tape make ceramic fiber tape a very versatile ceramic fiber textile.
Ceramic Fiber Cloth
Ceramic fiber cloth is a flexible textile woven from spun ceramic fiber. It is similar to fiberglass cloth but engineered specifically for very high temperature applications up to 2,300°F. Ceramic fiber cloth is often coated with vermiculite or other materials to provide a cleanable surface.
Ceramic fiber cloth is lightweight and easily cuts to shape. This makes it ideal for complex geometries and applications where a conformable insulation blanket is required. It can wrap around pipes, tanks, vessels, ducting, and other equipment as a thin, low bulk insulation. Ceramic fiber cloth is also available in multiple grades based on density and temperature capabilities.
Common applications for ceramic fiber cloth include furnace and kiln linings, oven door linings, expansion joint seals, gaskets, and general high temperature equipment blanketing. It can be layered or used alone to achieve the required insulation properties. The flexibility of the cloth form lends itself well to custom installations.
Summary About Ceramic Fiber Textiles
Ceramic fiber textiles such as ceramic fiber rope, ceramic fiber tape, and ceramic fiber cloth provide high performance, versatile solutions for extreme temperature insulation needs. The variety of material forms allow the insulation to be tailored to specific applications across many high temperature industries.