Related Resources: heat transfer
Insulation Material Thermal Conductivity Chart
Various Insulation Material Thermal Conductivity Chart
R-values per inch given in SI and Imperial units (Typical values are approximations, based on the average of available results. Ranges are marked with "–".
Material | m2·K/(W·in) | ft2·°F·h/(BTU·in) | m·K/W |
---|---|---|---|
Vacuum insulated panel | 5.28–8.8 | R-30–R-50 | |
Silica aerogel | 1.76 | R-10 | |
Polyurethane rigid panel (CFC/HCFC expanded) initial | 1.23–1.41 | R-7–R-8 | |
Polyurethane rigid panel (CFC/HCFC expanded) aged 5–10 years | 1.10 | R-6.25 | |
Polyurethane rigid panel (pentane expanded) initial | 1.20 | R-6.8 | |
Polyurethane rigid panel (pentane expanded) aged 5–10 years | 0.97 | R-5.5 | |
Foil faced Polyurethane rigid panel (pentane expanded) | 45-48 | ||
Foil-faced polyisocyanurate rigid panel (pentane expanded ) initial | 1.20 | R-6.8 | 55 |
Foil-faced polyisocyanurate rigid panel (pentane expanded) aged 5–10 years | 0.97 | R-5.5 | |
Polyisocyanurate spray foam | 0.76–1.46 | R-4.3–R-8.3 | |
Closed-cell polyurethane spray foam | 0.97–1.14 | R-5.5–R-6.5 | |
Phenolic spray foam | 0.85–1.23 | R-4.8–R-7 | |
Thinsulate clothing insulation | 1.01 | R-5.75 | |
Urea-formaldehyde panels | 0.88–1.06 | R-5–R-6 | |
Urea foam | 0.92 | R-5.25 | |
Extruded expanded polystyrene (XPS) high-density | 0.88–0.95 | R-5–R-5.4 | 26-40 |
Polystyrene board | 0.88 | R-5.00 | |
Phenolic rigid panel | 0.70–0.88 | R-4–R-5 | |
Urea-formaldehyde foam | 0.70–0.81 | R-4–R-4.6 | |
High-density fiberglass batts | 0.63–0.88 | R-3.6–R-5 | |
Extruded expanded polystyrene (XPS) low-density | 0.63–0.82 | R-3.6–R-4.7 | |
Icynene loose-fill (pour fill) | 0.70 | R-4 | |
Molded expanded polystyrene (EPS) high-density | 0.70 | R-4.2 | 22-32 |
Home Foam | 0.69 | R-3.9 | |
Rice hulls | 0.50 | R-3.0 | 24 |
Fiberglass batts | 0.55–0.76 | R-3.1–R-4.3 | |
Cotton batts (Blue Jean insulation) | 0.65 | R-3.7 | |
Molded expanded polystyrene (EPS) low-density | 0.65 | R-3.85 | |
Icynene spray | 0.63 | R-3.6 | |
Open-cell polyurethane spray foam | 0.63 | R-3.6 | |
Cardboard | 0.52–0.7 | R-3–R-4 | |
Rock and slag wool batts | 0.52–0.68 | R-3–R-3.85 | |
Cellulose loose-fill | 0.52–0.67 | R-3–R-3.8 | |
Cellulose wet-spray | 0.52–0.67 | R-3–R-3.8 | |
Rock and slag wool loose-fill | 0.44–0.65 | R-2.5–R-3.7 | |
Fiberglass loose-fill | 0.44–0.65 | R-2.5–R-3.7 | |
Polyethylene foam | 0.52 | R-3 | |
Cementitious foam | 0.35–0.69 | R-2–R-3.9 | |
Perlite loose-fill | 0.48 | R-2.7 | |
Wood panels, such as sheathing | 0.44 | R-2.5 | 9 |
Fiberglass rigid panel | 0.44 | R-2.5 | |
Vermiculite loose-fill | 0.38–0.42 | R-2.13–R-2.4 | |
Vermiculite | 0.38 | R-2.13 | 16-17 |
Straw bale | 0.26 | R-1.45 | 16-22 |
Papercrete | R-2.6-R-3.2 | ||
Softwood (most) | 0.25 | R-1.41 | 7.7 |
Wood chips and other loose-fill wood products | 0.18 | R-1 | |
Snow | 0.18 | R-1 | |
Hardwood (most) | 0.12 | R-0.71 | 5.5 |
Brick | 0.030 | R-0.2 | 1.3-1.8 |
Glass | 0.025 | R-0.14 | |
Poured concrete | 0.014 | R-0.08 | 0.43-0.87 |
Cork
Cork is probably one of the oldest insulation materials used commercially, and in the past it was the most widely used insulation material in the refrigeration industry. At present, due to the scarcity of cork-producing trees, its price is relatively high in comparison with other insulating materials. Therefore, its use is very limited, with the exception of some machine foundations to reduce the transmission of vibrations. It is available as expanded slabs or boards as well as in granular form, its density varies from 110 to 130 kg/m 3 and it has an average mechanical resistance of 2.2 kg/m 2 . It can only be used up to temperatures of 65 °C. It has good thermal insulating effectiveness, is fairly resistant to compression and is difficult to burn. Its main technical limitation is the tendency to absorb moisture with an average permeance to water vapor of 12.5 g cm m -2 day -1 mmHg -1 . Table A & B gives some typical characteristics of cork.
TABLE A
Thermal conductivity and density values at 0 °C of fiberglass insulation
Type |
Density |
Thermal conductivity |
(kg/m 3 ) |
(W m -1 °C -1 ) / (kcal h -1 m -1 °C -1 ) |
|
Type I |
10-18 |
0.044/0.038 |
Type II |
19-30 |
0.037/0.032 |
Type III |
31-45 |
0.034/0.029 |
Type IV |
46-65 |
0.033/0.028 |
Type V |
66-90 |
0.033/0.028 |
Type VI |
91 |
0.036/0.031 |
Glass fibre, resin bonded |
64-144 |
0.036/0.031 |
Source : Prepared by authors based on data from Melgarejo, 1995.
TABLE B
Thermal conductivity and density values at 20-25 °C of cork insulation
Type |
Density |
Thermal conductivity |
(kg/m 3 ) |
(W m -1 °C -1 ) / (kcal h -1 m -1 °C -1 ) |
|
Granulated loose, dry |
115 |
0.052/0.0447 |
Granulated |
86 |
0.048/0.041 |
Expanded cork slab |
130 |
0.04/0.344 |
Expanded cork board |
150 |
0.043/0.037 |
Expanded bonded with resins/bitumen |
100-150 |
0.043/0.037 |
Expanded bonded with resins/bitumen |
150-250 |
0.048/0.041 |
Source : Prepared by authors based on data from Melgarejo, 1995.
Related Resources:
- Thermal Conductivity of Common Metals and Alloys
- Thermal Conductivity Conversions
- Steady State Conduction Multi layer Cylinder Calculation
- Heat Losses From Bare and Insulated Pipe
- Heat Loss from Pipe Outdoors
- Heat Loss from a Pipe Calculator
- Heat Loss Insulated Pipe Equation and Calculator