Search

The Modular Building System (MBS) is increasingly popular and promoted due to the inherent advantages over conventional construction. Fire performance of a building has become a crucial design consideration because of the recent detrimental fire accidents. However, for modular buildings, there has been less previous evidence of research on the fire performance. Investigations become necessary since double skin wall and floor modular panel systems are involved in MBS in contrast to conventional buildings. Therefore, this work investigates the fire performance of Light-gauge Steel Framed (LSF) modular wall panels with different configurations through numerical analyses. Heat transfer numerical models were developed and validated against the full-scale fire test results comparing the time–temperature response. The validated numerical models were subsequently extended to analyse the fire performance of conventional and modular LSF wall panels. This includes 16 modular wall configurations with single and double fire resistance plasterboard linings and three different insulations, namely rock wool, glass fibre and mineral wool. The structural fire resistance time was determined using the established Load Ratio (LR) vs critical Hot-Flange (HF) temperature correlation. The results demonstrated that there is no noticeable difference in the structural fire resistance time between the modular and the corresponding mapped conventional LSF wall configurations. However, modular wall panels experience enhanced insulation fire resistance up to 170% for single-lined plasterboards and up to 80% for double-lined plasterboard configurations. The analysis also yields that there is no significant influence of the choice of insulation material between rock-wool, glass-fibre and mineral-wool on structural fire resistance.

The structural features of the thermal unit for the production of molded heat insulation materials and their technological parameters must be in full compliance with the properties of the initial materials and are determined by the production program of the enterprise. Based on the peculiarities of gas dynamics formation, the structural parameters of the thermal chamber are determined: dimensions, shape of the internal surface, presence of longitudinal and transverse seals, extent and parameters of heat treatment. Method of thermal calculation including separate consideration of conditions of mineral wool carpet heating in heat chamber and formation of heat carrier flow in furnace is proposed.

This paper reports a study into the possibility of applying a simplified approach, recommended by standards for conventional steel beams, to determine the heating temperature under the conditions of a fire in relation to steel I-beams with a corrugated wall. The research is predetermined by the limitation of methods that make it possible to determine the heating temperature of this type of beam in a fire using engineering methods with a small amount of calculations. Technical data on steel beams with cladding have been considered for calculation, the features of heat impact of fire on them have been analyzed, a calculation procedure has been devised, the estimation schemes have been built, and the calculations have been performed. Data on the temperature distribution in the cross-sections of beams with and without cladding were obtained by using a simplified method recommended by standards and the refined method based on a finite-element method. Mathematical models have been constructed for calculations that describe the effect of a standard temperature regime of fire on the distribution of temperature in eachminute in the cross-sections of steel beams with and without cladding. The models have been described on the basis of the differential equation of thermal conductivity, boundary conditions of the third kind, which take into consideration convective and radiant heat transfer. It was established that themineral wool cladding of the beam with a corrugated wall is a reliable fire protection agent. The heating temperature of the beam does not reach a critical value of 500°C in 60minutes, which provides the class of this beam with the most stringent requirements for its fire resistance in accordance with the classification in line with the acting norms in Ukraine. The simplified method, recommended by the current standards of the European Union and Ukraine, could be effectively used to analyze the fire resistance of these beams and is the basis of the procedure for the estimated assessment of the fire resistance of these structures

The article presents a case study on the impact of thermal rehabilitation of buildings heat demand. In order to reduce specific heat consumption and, in general, heat consumption for heating and hot water preparation, measures are needed to rehabilitate and modernize the thermal protection of buildings and heating and hot water installations. The present study aims to determine the influence of thermal rehabilitation of buildings (insulation of exterior walls - in this case) making for this purpose a comparison of the values of thermal requirements before and after the thermal rehabilitation process for a building. Regarding the thermal insulation used in the case study, expanded polystyrene with a thickness of 10 cm was used for the exterior walls and mineral wool for ceiling. The main purpose of the work is to highlight the importance of thermal insulation of buildings mainly in terms of reducing energy costs and maintaining thermal comfort in homes

Mineral wool products are produced by creating a spray of fibres, that is collected and made into slabs. This randomized spray can lead to small variations across a slab. Nevertheless, mineral wool slabs are often treated in acoustics as locally reacting perfectly homogeneous, isotropic materials. This means that small-scale characterisations are extrapolated to large-scale without considering the impact from possible variations in a large-scale setup. The question is how the small-scale characterisations should be used for large-scale setups with this in mind. Three products with the same thickness and density, but with significantly different specific airflow resistances were selected for random incidence sound absorption tests. The products were all specially made ceiling tiles and measurements were conducted in E200 setup according to ISO 354:2003. The tiles were gradually exchanged in a random fashion, so measurement results were obtained using a combination of tiles with different specific airflow resistances. Results showed a surprisingly linear relation between the sound absorption and the average specific airflow resistance of tiles used in the measurements. The results point to that variations in products must be observed, but also that small variations in specific airflow resistance in standardized products are insignificant.

Ferronickel slag is a by-product in the production of Ni–Fe alloy, which can be used to produce mineral wool. The crystallization and viscosity of ferronickel slag have great influence on the production process of mineral wool. The crystallization properties and viscosity of three kinds of ferronickel slags with different Al2O3 contents were investigated. It was studied by viscometer and high-temperature confocal scanning laser microscope (CSLM). The morphology and composition of crystals in the slag were characterized by field scanning electron microscope (FE-SEM) and energy dispersive spectrometer (EDS). The experimental results show that the crystallization process of molten slag conforms to the Johnson-Mehl-Avrami (JMA) crystallization kinetic model. With the increase of Al2O3 content, the crystal size of ferronickel slag becomes smaller, the crystallization time increases, and the crystallization capacity decreases. The main crystallization product of No.1 and 2 slag is orthopyroxene, and the main crystallization product in No.3 slag is alumina. With the increase of Al2O3 content, the transition temperature of ferronickel slag increases first and then decreases. The variation of viscosity is mainly related to the precipitation and growth of crystals, and is also affected by the type and the number of crystals.

Mineral waste wool represents a significant part of construction and demolition waste (CDW) not yet being successfully re-utilized. In the present study, waste stone wool (SW) and glass wool (GW) in the form received, without removing the binder, were evaluated for their potential use in alkali activation technology. It was confirmed that both can be used in the preparation of alkali-activated materials (AAMs), whether cured at room temperature or at an elevated temperature in order to speed up the reaction. The results show that it is possible to obtain a compressive strength of over 50 MPa using SW or GW as a precursor. A strength of 53 MPa was obtained in AAM based on GW after curing for 3 days at 40 °C, while a similar compressive strength (58 MPa) was achieved after curing the GW mixture for 56 days at room temperature. In general, the mechanical properties of samples based on GW are better than those based on SW. The evolution of mechanical properties and recognition of influential parameters were determined by various microstructural analyses, including XRD, SEM, MIP, and FTIR. The type of activator (solely NaOH or a combination of NaOH and sodium silicate), and the SiO2/Na2O and liquid to solid (L/S) ratios were found to be the significant parameters. A lower SiO2/Na2O ratio and low L/S ratio significantly improve the mechanical strength of AAMs made from both types of mineral wool.

The possibility of using the waste from the production of mineral wool (MW) and nepheline-syenite (NS) in the production of ceramics in order to improve the physical and mechanical properties as well as the frost resistance of the samples was investigated. The use of NS in amounts 5 – 15% increases the compression strength of the samples to 17% and reduces the density, water absorption, and ultrasound speed in the samples to 5.2, 12.5 and 7% after firing at 1060°C. An increase in the NS amount due to an increase in the number of pores with diameters 0.02 – 0.1 μm in the samples promotes diminishes the damage to samples during freezing– thawing processes.

In order to explore the manufacturing process of mineral wool, the effects of isothermal temperature and cooling rate on the crystallization properties of silicomanganese slag were in-situ observed by using a confocal laser scanning microscopy (CLSM). In addition, the relationship between different cooling rates and the viscosity of silicomanganese slag was studied by a viscometer. The results show that the crystallinity of silicomanganese slag increases with the decrease of temperature in the range of 1325–1225 °C. At the same time, with the decrease of temperature, the crystallization mechanism of silicomanganese slag changes from two-dimensional to one-dimensional. Once the cooling rate is greater than 5 °C/s, the silicomanganese slag is glassy and will not precipitate crystals. The SEM images of the precipitated phase morphology of silicomanganese slag are consistent with the in-situ observation results of CLSM experiment, and the isothermal crystalline phase is anorthite. Moreover, the viscosity test shows that with the increase of cooling rate, the viscosity of silicomanganese slag decreases obviously at 1400 °C.

The paper consists of two mutually independent units. The first part of the paper is a theoretical research part with the topic „Products for thermal insulation of buildings – external thermal insulation composite systems (ETICS) based on mineral wool" - EUROPIAN STANDARD EN 13500 which describes the concept of ETICS system, the most important features, application principles, installation. Also, EN 13500 is described - a European standard which sets out the requirements for factory-made ETICS products that are delivered as a set. In the second part of the paper, a visual macroscopic examination of the object was performed, with the aim of determining the existing condition for a multi-storey residential building in Novi Sad. An energy efficiency calculation was performed for the building. Based on this calculation and visual inspection of the structure, remedial measures are given that increase the durability of the building, energy efficiency, as well as its compliance with the Rulebook on energy efficiency.

Environmental issues near roads become more and more important in our society daily life. One of the most critical environmental issues is traffic noise. The present paper study louvred noise barrier designed by authors. The louvred noise barrier provides sound attenuation while allowing airflow and sunlight through it. Since the airflow resistance of the barrier is low, it requires a shallow foundation compared to conventional noise barriers. The sound attenuation performance of the louvred noise barrier was tested experimentally in a sound transmission chamber. Airflow resistance simulated using a computational fluid dynamics model. The simulation and experimental study were done with different louvred noise barrier setup: change of louvre blade angle and sound-absorbing material thickness. The results showed potential for future development for the field testing. Sound attenuation was highest in 2500 Hz and 3150 Hz octave frequency bands. Depending on the louvred barrier setup, sound attenuation was up to 28 dB(A) in mentioned frequency bands. The equivalent sound pressure level reduced up to 17 dB(A). The results showed that an increase in the louvre blade angle increases sound attenuation and increases airflow resistance.

It is proposed to use a porous heat-insulating glass-ceramic material (GCM) in the form of segments based on glass, a plasticizer, organic additives, and a gas generator for thermal insulation of pipelines of heating pipe mains and utilities. Research on the use of GCMs in the heat supply pipelines was conducted according to the key methodology for studying new materials, including their composition, structure, properties, changes under the influence of external factors, and their applications. The effectiveness of the thermal insulation materials for thermal insulation of pipes was evaluated on the basis of the physical and technical characteristics of the heat-transfer medium, pipes, and thermal insulation materials. The study involved the determination of the heat losses and thermal resistances through the insulated surface of the aboveground supply and return pipelines of heat networks. When calculating the heat loss through the pipe with various heat insulators in use, the layer thickness was assumed to be the same. The studies have shown that, when using shells made of granular glass-ceramic material, the loss of heat transmitted by thermal conductivity is 1.36 times lower than that for a vermiculite shell, 2.45 times lower than that for mineral wool segments, and 2.11 times lower than that for 500 grade sovelite shells. The use of products made of granular glass-ceramic material significantly reduces the heat loss and the thickness of the thermal insulating layer of the pipelines and ensures fuel and energy savings.

This article presents regulatory requirements in the field of fire safety for bearing and enclosing structures of oil-and-gas complex construction, tankers and offshore fixed platforms. Authors investigate two steel deck bulkhead with mineral wool fire protection for a sea building construction with a fire resistance limit A-60 (standard fire mode) and Н-120 (hydrocarbon fire mode). Finite element modeling used in this study showed excellent correlation with experiment results (average deviation is less than 5%) and can be effectively use to predicate and justify fire resistance limit. It was also found inappropriate behavior of one of the samples during the experiment, which was not predicted by the calculation model. Some materials has a lack of experimental data about thermophysical properties, therefore the special curves, which shows dependence of the thermal conductivity on temperature were built on the basis of regression analysis. The most optimal dependences were selected. In future, this database can be used to create an adequate model for calculations different fire mode simulation (including hydro-carbonate and real one) and develop regulatory requirements and numerical methods of calculation for tankers and offshore oil platforms.

In the ArchiCAD 19 software, on the basis of design documentation for the space-planning solution of buildings, a study of the distribution of temperature fields and energy flows passing through enclosing structures with insulation from expanded polystyrene and mineral wool during operation was conducted.

Mineral wool is an insulation material commonly used in passive fire protection (PFP) systems on offshore installations. Insulation materials have only been considered functional materials for thermal analysis in the conventional offshore PFP system design method. Hence, the structural performance of insulation has yet to be considered in the design of PFP systems. However, the structural elements of offshore PFP systems are often designed with excessive dimensions to satisfy structural requirements under external loads such as wind, fire and explosive pressure. To verify the structural contribution of insulation material, it was considered a structural material in this study. A series of material tensile tests was undertaken with two types of mineral wool at room temperature and at elevated temperatures for fire conditions. The mechanical properties were then verified with modified methods, and a database was constructed for application in a series of nonlinear structural and thermal finite-element analyses of an offshore bulkhead-type PFP system. Numerical analyses were performed with a conventional model without insulation and with a new suggested model with insulation. These analyses showed the structural contribution of the insulation in the structural behaviour of the PFP panel. The results suggest the need to consider the structural strength of the insulation material in PFP systems during the structural design step for offshore installations.

The environmental benefits of green roofs have been widely recognized. In recent years, increasing attention has been paid to moisture management in the green roof systems. The moisture in the green roof has an influence on its thermal and hydrological performances. An accurate measurement of water content in green roof substrate is important for irrigation monitoring, optimal irrigation management, and plant growth. Knowing the performance and characteristics of the sensor for the chosen substrate layer in a green roof system is essential. This paper presents laboratory calibration of the capacitive moisture sensor in two types of the green roof substrate layer. The volumetric water content of several mineral wool and soil samples, with the water content from low until saturated, were measured using the gravimetric method and related to frequency obtained by the sensor. The results have shown that the capacitive moisture sensor has a good response to water content variation.

The combined use of waste from the production of mineral wool (MW) and spent catalyst (SC) from catalytic cracking of petroleum products in the production of ceramics was investigated. It was found that, compared with the control composition, in the firing process at temperature 1080°C the MW acts as a fluxing additive, increasing the density of the samples by 3.3%, strength in compression by 19.2%, and shrinkage deformation by 16.1% and reducing water absorption by a factor of 3. The combined use ofMWand SC in the composition (SC increasing from 10 to 20%) contributes to the intensification of the crystallization of the minerals anorthite and mullite, which contributes to shrinkage deformation reduction by up to a factor of 1.85 without degradation of the mechanical properties as compared with the control composition with no additives.

Relevance. Cucumber in the Russian Federation in protected ground in terms of growing areas and production volume is the first, its share in the total production of greenhouse products in recent years accounts for about 50-55%. Scientific research confirms the positive effect of silicon-containing agrochemicals on the intensity of metabolic processes in the plant body, which is manifested in increasing the yield of commercial products, resistance to adverse environmental factors, and the realization of the biological potential of crops. Methods. The aim of the research is to evaluate the effect of silicon – containing fertilizers on the productivity of Cyborg F1 cucumber in low-volume cultivation technology. The research was conducted in the winter-spring period of 2020 in the conditions of a winter glazed greenhouse of the greenhouse complex of the Stavropol state agrarian university. The objects of research were cucumber Cyborg F1, fertilizers Kelik Potassium Silicon, Siliplant, Forris, Bio Silicium. Fertilizers were applied to foliar top dressing three times during the cucumber growing season. All microclimate conditions in the greenhouse were regulated automatically using the Sercom climate program. Mineral wool was used as a substrate. Results. Fertilizing with silicon – containing fertilizers increased the degree of assimilation of nutrients by plants of cucumber Cyborg F1: the nitrogen content in the drainage solution decreased by 6-26 mg/l, phosphorus – by 4-8 mg/l, and potassium-by 18-34 mg/l. The use of silicon-containing fertilizers contributed to an increase in the area of cucumber leaves compared to the control by 1.6-3.1%, the yield of standard products-by 3.7-8.1%, yield-by 0.9-2.5 kg/m2, and a decrease in the degree of ovary death – by 2.0-3.5%. When using silicon-containing fertilizers, the quality of cucumber products improved. Thus, in the conditions of the sixth light zone, to increase the yield of Cyborg F1 cucumber in low-volume cultivation technology, it is recommended to use silicon-containing fertilizers Siliplant and Forris, which provides an increase relative to the control of 7.4 and 9.2%, respectively.

Today, the country faces the problem of recycling waste from the production of mineral wool. The article discusses a method for recycling waste from the production of mineral wool by adding them as a filler to ceramic blocks used in building structures.The proposed method of waste disposal of mineral wool production will allow not only to reduce the anthropogenic load on the environment and reduce the cost of its disposal, but also to increase the thermal insulation and strength properties of building structures. The purpose of the research is to substantiate the feasibility of adding mineral wool production waste to the composition of ceramic blocks or ceramic bricks. The dependence of the thermal insulation indicators of ceramic blocks on the content of mineral wool waste at various values of the moisture content of the masonry has been investigated. The dependences of the coefficient of thermal conductivity and resistance to heat transfer on the content of waste mineral wool in the ceramic block have been established. The rational content of mineral wool production waste in the composition of ceramic blocks has been determined, which provides high thermal insulation properties of buildings and has a low cost, which makes the building material competitive.The proposed method of waste disposal of mineral wool production is suitable for use in the production of both ceramic blocks and for the production of ceramic bricks.

Pineapple leaf and cotton waste fibers known as abundant by-products in the agriculture and textile industry are combined for the first time to produce thermal insulating and flexible cellulose-based aerogel composites via an environmentally friendly and cost-effective freeze-drying process. The effect of total fiber content and the ratio of pineapple leaf fibers (PF) to cotton waste fibers (CF) on the density, porosity, morphology, durability, and thermal properties of aerogel composites are comprehensively investigated. The as-fabricated aerogel composites show an exceedingly low density of 0.019–0.046 g cm−3 with high porosity of more than 96%. Because of the porous structure inside, our aerogel composites exhibit outstanding heat insulation with extraordinarily low thermal conductivity of 0.039–0.043 W m−1 K−1 that is comparable to commercial insulation materials (mineral wool, fiberglass, polystyrene) and previous cellulose-based aerogels from recycled cellulose fibers, sugarcane bagasse, and rice straw. Interestingly, the combination of those fibers has remarkably improved the flexibility of our previous aerogels from pineapple leaf fibers only, in particular, the compressive modulus of aerogel composites (11.33–44.63 kPa) is 6 times higher than that of PF aerogels (5.73 kPa). The sheet of aerogel composite with a dimension of 28 × 28 cm which is rolled up shows no crack on its surface, demonstrating its excellent mechanical strength. The research results increase the possibility of applying the developed aerogel composites from biomass into practical insulation.

Mineral wool is widely used for thermal and sound insulation. The subject of the study is to identify hazards for employees resulting from exposure to mineral wool, when it is used to insulate buildings, and to assess the risk arising from this exposure. When installing mineral wool insulation, respirable mineral fibers, dust, and volatile organic compounds may pose a hazard at workplaces. Based on the results of concentration measurements, it was assessed that the probability of adverse health effects related to the work of insulation installers, resulting from exposure to mineral wool fibers, is low, but for dust associated with exposure, an average health risk was estimated. An additional threat may be the sensitizing effect of substances used as binders and additives improving the utility properties of mineral wool, for example, phenol formaldehyde resins. The paper also contains some information on the labeling of mineral wool; this is very important because the label allows downstream users to recognize mineral wools, the composition and properties of which cause that they are not classified as carcinogens. Int J Occup Med Environ Health. 2020;33(6):757-69.

The value of the thermal conductivity coefficient depending on the temperature of the samples of steel rod fragments with fire-retardant cladding has been determined in the present research. The thermal conductivity coefficient of mineral wool fire-retardant cladding was determined; special patterns of its dependence on temperature were revealed. This is explained by the thermal decomposition with the release of thermal energy of inclusions between the fibers of mineral wool and its fibers at a temperature of 750°C. The apparent minimum of the thermal conductivity factor for fire-retardant mineral wool cladding with a thickness of more than 50mm is observed at a temperature of about 100°C. This happens due to the fact that at this temperature the free moisture contained between the fibers of the mineral wool evaporates. Generalized temperature dependence of the thermal conductivity coefficient of mineral wool fire-retardant cladding has also been derived, in a tabular form. It can be used for calculating the temperature in steel structures with such fire protection. The thickness range for application is up to 80mm for the specific heat capacity of 1,000J/(kg°C) and a density of 200kg/m3. It is shown how the obtained dependence can be used for predicting heating in steel structures with fire-retardant mineral wool cladding. The relative error between the calculated and experimental data was calculated. The Cochrane, Student, and Fischer criteria for the results of temperature calculation in steel structures with fire-retardant mineral wool cladding between the calculated and experimental data accept values that do not exceed the tabular quantities. This means that the results of the calculation using the obtained temperature dependence of the thermal conductivity coefficient are adequate

The accommodation room on the ship is used as a resting place for the crew and as a storage place for goods on the ship so insulation is needed in each room to withstand the heat propagation on the ship. One type of insulation material on a ship is mineral wool which is made from polyurethane. Polyurethane is a plastic foam that is a mixture of polyol and isocynate and one of the ingredients is polymer which can be obtained from natural materials that contain lots of cellulose such as bagasse and sawdust. the addition of sawdust and bagasse that can be done is 40% of the total volume of the mixture. Then it is carried out to get the thermal conductivity value of each mixture of sawdust, bagasse, and polyurethane with various dosing ratios on the sawdust, to further calculate the cooling load. The test results show the best conductivity value is the mixing of wood powder 0.2 gr which is 2.65 w / mk which can withstand the rate of heat up to 311.59 KW.

the paper shows the possibility of producing a thermal insulating composite based on basalt fibers and sapo-nite-containing mining waste. A method for manufacturing thermal insulating composites from hydro-mass with different contents of the mixture components is proposed. Basalt fibers were used as a filler, and pre-mechanoactivated saponite-containing material (SCM) was used as a binder. It was found experimentally that depending on the composition of composites, the coefficient of thermal conductivity varies from 0.1109 to 0.1342 W/(m•K), and the compressive strength – from 0.45 to 0.93 MPa. In addition, it was found that thermal modification of composites at temperatures up to 1200°C significantly (up to 3 times) increases the compressive strength of composites, while not affecting the coefficient of thermal conductivity. The ex-periments to determine the conductivity of the composite “basalt fiber – SСM” depending on its moisture content showed that the obtained composite is characterized by intense and linear increase in the values of conductivity when the humidity of the sample to 12% and further increase in humidity practically does not change the values of the coefficient of thermal conductivity. Comparison of the studied thermal insulation composite with known structural thermal insulation materials in terms of its thermal insulation and strength characteristics showed that it is comparable to gas and foam blocks. It should also be noted that this material is environmentally safe and can withstand high temperatures without collapsing.

A new technology for forming multilayer mineral-wool mats by zig-zag pendulum layering of the primary mineral mat is described. It consists in forming variable-height loops in the primary mineral-wool mat in order to equalize the feed rate of the primary mineral-wool mat to the pendulum layering device and the circular velocity of the pendulum at the point of egress from it of the primary mineral-wool mat over the entire extent of the zig-zag layering pattern of the primary mat. Analytical formulas are given for calculating the parameters of the technology implementing the new method of zig-zag pendulum layering of mineral-wool mats.

To utilize both ferronickel slag and its sensible heat, the melting and viscosity-temperature behaviors of the B2O3 modified slags were studied first. Results show that the initial melting temperature reduces from 1612 K (1339 °C) to 1534 K (1261 °C), and the complete melting temperatures decreases from 1744 K (1471 °C) to 1696 K (1423 °C) with the increase of B2O3 from 3 to 9 wt%. However, the temperature span of the viscosity ranging in 0.5–2.5 Pa s increases from 10 K (°C) to 39 K (°C) with increasing B2O3. Then, the characterizations of the slag fibers prepared by the modified slags suggest that the addition of B2O3 decreases the mean diameter of the slag fibers from 5.6 ± 0.45 μm to 3.4 ± 0.27 μm, whereas increases their tensile strength from 1724 ± 80 MPa to 2114 ± 136 MPa. Moreover, both the glass transition temperature (Tg) and crystallization temperature (Tc) are delayed by the addition of B2O3 since boron works as network former in the slag melt structure.

Utilization of ferronickel slag as a raw material for mineral wool production not only conserves natural resources, but also achieves the sustainable development for the ferronickel industry. In order to utilize the ferronickel slag more efficiently, the melting and crystallization behaviors of the slag with the partial replacement of SiO2 by B2O3 were investigated in this paper. The results show that the initial and complete melting temperatures decreased with B2O3 substitution for SiO2, which indicates that the addition of B2O3 can reduce the energy consumption during the melting process. The incubation time of the slag in the Time Temperature Transformation (TTT) diagram increased, whereas the initial crystallization temperature in the Continuous Cooling Transformation (CCT) diagram decreased when SiO2 was substituted by B2O3. In addition, the main crystalline phases precipitated in the slags were columnar MgSiO3 and Mg2SiO4. The weakening of crystallization ability caused by the substitution of B2O3 for SiO2 will be beneficial for the improvement of fiber quality when the ferronickel slag is used as a raw material for mineral wool production.

Polyurethane foams are widely used for insulation applications due to their high insulation properties as compared to conventional materials such as extruded polystyrene foam and mineral wool. In this study, soy-based polyurethane foams were prepared using five different surfactants while keeping other components such as soy-based polyol, diisocyanate, catalyst, and blowing agent (water) constant. Prepared samples were tested for mechanical and thermal properties to evaluate the effect of different surfactants used in varying quantities. The morphology of the foam samples was observed using a scanning electron microscope. Seventeen fold reduction in the cell size was observed with an increase in the amount of surfactant from 0.5 to 5.0 g. Samples with higher amounts of surfactant also exhibited a higher number of closed cells. Better thermal insulation was observed for samples with 2.0 and 5.0 g of surfactant as compared to samples with 0.5 g of surfactant. A similar trend was observed in the mechanical strength, moisture absorbance, and density of the fabricated foam samples.

Wood and mineral wool fractions from demolished buildings were sorted into different categories and processed to the suitable grain size needed for the manufacturing of wood-plastic composites. Processed construction and demolition waste materials mixed with plastics and additives were extruded into hollow test bars using a conical rotary extruder. Test specimens needed for measurements were cut from test bars. The results showed that the mechanical performance of wood-plastic composites based on construction and demolition waste wood, and mineral wool was at a good level and comparable to commonly used wood-plastic composites in decking applications. The highest strength properties of wood-plastic composites were achieved with a plywood fraction and the lowest with materials containing a particle/fibre board fraction. The mechanical performance can be improved by utilizing mineral wool in the formulation of wood-plastic composites. A material mixture containing several wood fractions as well as mineral wool also gave good strength properties. Only a minor reduction in strength properties was measured when recycled plastic was utilized meaning that wood-plastic composites suitable for many types of applications can be produced entirely from recycled materials.

The traditional binder used in mineral wool is phenolic resin that makes mineral wool insulations reliable and efficient. The toxicity and health hazards of phenol and formaldehyde are becoming more and more pressing, and the industrial production needs to focus on safer precursors. Several formulations of bio-based binders for mineral wool have been developed, meeting the challenge of performing equally well as conventional binders. Technical lignins, due to their intrinsic structure and their abundance, are good candidates for future industrial adhesives. Carbohydrates are other class of biomaterials widely used in both research and patent formulations toward mineral wool binders. Proteins and cardanol are still largely unknown precursors, although they have hidden potentials for reliable binder systems. Even if conventional binders are not replaced completely with bio-based alternatives today, a partial use is already a step forward in the right direction – toward future biorefinery-based industries and knowledge-based bioeconomies in general.

W artykule przeanalizowano mechanizm utraty właściwości funkcjonalnych systemów ETICS z okładziną nieciągłą, ze szczególnym uwzględnieniem zachowania obciążenia swobodnego. Przedmiotem dyskusji jest zewnętrzny system izolacji termicznej z płytką ceramiczną wyciętą z cegły, ułożoną na dwóch różnych podłożach, tj. wełnie mineralnej i styropianie. Podstawą oceny są zastosowane maksymalne obciążenie własne, maksymalna różnica przemieszczeń uzyskana dla omawianego rozwiązania podczas badań wykonanych w warunkach laboratoryjnych.

Цель. На основе экспериментальных исследований и теоретических данных разработать методику и определить теплофизические характеристики цементно-армированных и минераловатных плит при повышенных температурах для решения задач огнестойкости. Методы. Использованы методы конечных элементов, параметрической оптимизации, экспериментальные исследования. Результаты. Разработана методика и проведены экспериментальные исследования по прогреву исследуемых материалов в рамках границ температурно-временной кривой стандартного пожара: в стационарном тепловом режиме при температурах 275, 550, 770 и 1150 °С; в нестационарном тепловом режиме при температурах от 20 до 1000 °С. Разработаны расчетные конечно-элементные модели, сформулированы краевые (начальные и граничные) условия, с использованием методов параметрической оптимизации определены теплофизические характеристики цементно-армированных и минераловатных плит при повышенных температурах для решения задач огнестойкости. Область применения исследований. Полученные результаты могут быть использованы для решения задач огнестойкости строительных конструкций на основе минеральных утеплителей и цементно-армированных плит, а также для определения теплофизических характеристик при повышенных температурах иных строительных материалов.

The purpose of the work is to analyze fire prevention measures in structures of external walls with facade thermal insulation and plastering, as well as to analyze the features of their arrangement, taking into account the experience of neighboring countries. The application of exterior wall designs with facade thermal insulation with plaster finish, as well as problems related to their fire hazard, are substantiated. The works are analyzed to investigate the problems of fire safety of exterior wall structures with facade thermal insulation and plastering, as well as hinged facade systems. The types, design features, purpose and functions of fire belts and framing of window (door) openings made of non-combustible materials, which are arranged in exterior wall designs with facade thermal insulation and plaster finish, are considered and analyzed. The role of floor fire belts and the framing of window (door) openings made of non-combustible mineral wool boards have been established. It is concluded that the use of structures of the exterior walls of residential buildings with facade thermal insulation with a combustible insulation and plastering significantly increases their level of fire danger. This danger will depend both on the properties of the individual materials (in particular the insulation), and on the design features of the entire thermal insulation system and the building as a whole. For plaster systems of thermal insulation of facades, the rapid spread of fire on the higher and lower floors of the building is a big threat. Frequent causes of fire of thermal insulation systems of external walls is the tipping of fire from a window opening of a building as a result of intense fire indoors. Materials of decorative and protective finishing of walls should meet requirements of normative documents on designs of external walls with facade thermal insulation and plaster finish, and their constructive execution will depend on the height of the building and functional purpose of the object. Fire-fighting measures, foreseeing in the construction of exterior walls with facade thermal insulation and plastering, intended to ensure their fire safety during the time necessary for the safe evacuation of people from the building, the arrival of units of fire and rescue units and extending the fire throughout its distribution.

The aim of this article – to determine short term and long term strengthening of clay soil, by strengthening it with fly ash obtained during the production of mineral wool. This article introduces research which is used to determine the optimal ratio of fly ash in cement suspension for strengthening of clay soil. Samples which were investigated in this research work prepared by mixing Portland cement, mineral wool fly ash, clay powder, sand and water. All investigated samples compressive strength after 6 months exceeded 1.7 MPa. It is enough of such strength in geotechnics to conduct strengthening of soil and it is possible to argue that soil is strengthened. First published online 13 February 2020

In the article, experimental fire tests on establishing maximum fire resistance of the steel columns with fire-retardant mineral wool covering are analyzed. The scientific novelty of this study are the new method developed for manufacturing and shaping samples of the steel columns with fire-retardant mineral wool covering, and the method developed for conducting fire tests on establishing patterns of dependence of the moment when steel columns with the fire-retardant cladding lose their bearing capacity down to the limit. The subject of the study was an influence of design parameters of the fire-retardant cladding on the results of the estimated fire resistance of the steel columns under the influence of the standard fire temperature mode. The main task of the research described in this article was to determine a moment of the peak critical temperature of fire-retardant steel structure depending on the thickness of the mineral wool covering. The test results of samples of steel columns with different thickness of fire-retardant cladding based on mineral wool covering are also described in the article; the tests were carried out in accordance with the developed methodology of experimental studies. The repeatability of the time indicators of the bearing capacity loss by the tested samples of steel columns with fire-retardant cladding depending on the duration of the sample exposure to the action of the fire standard temperature is shown. The obtained research results will allow to create a mathematical model for predicting a dependence of the moment when a steel structure reaches its critical temperature depending on the thickness of the fire-retardant cladding. The constructed mathematical model can be considered as a scientific basis for the creation of new engineering methods of calculation for assessing fire resistance of the steel structures with fire-retardant mineral wool covering. These engineering and calculation methods allow improving the regulatory acts for designing of the fire-resistant steel structures.

Railway transportation of liquefied petroleum gases in special tank wagons requires special attention to safety on the railway. A new method for analyzing the scenario of tank cars of liquefied hydrocarbon gases is proposed. It is based on the methodology for calculating the behavior of a rail tank car with liquefied gas in a fire. This method simulates processes using the «Fobot» software package. This mathematical model considers a metal tank with LPG, the outer surface of which contains a heat-insulating layer consisting of a layer of a porous non-combustible material (mineral wool) and a foaming fire-retardant paint. With the help of “Fobot”, calculations of an emergency situation were made using various methods of fire protection. Certain patterns were deduced, conclusions were drawn to assess the degree of elaboration of this topic. The possibilities for improving this complex have become known, as well as the ability to design various emergency situations using all kinds of fire-fighting materials and technically improved devices.

Facade thermal insulation composite systems with polystyrene insulation are extremely popular in modern construction sphere. Polystyrene and expanded polystyrene insulation plates have increasingly higher level of thermal resistance than classical insulation materials. It has to be stated that the vapour permeability coefficient of polystyrene is ten times less than the vapour permeability coefficient of mineral wool. Thus, the moisture regime process of enclosing structures which contain polystyrene as an insulation layer is significantly more complex than the moisture regime of enclosing structures with mineral wool. The plane of the moisture maximum was calculated using created computer program. The result showed that the moisture maximum was inside insulation layer. It is certain that in terms of providing evidence of this result, it is necessary to calculate the moisture behaviour inside researched facade thermal insulation composite system with polystyrene insulation by an unsteady-state moisture regime mathematical model. The mathematical model based on the moisture potential theory was chosen for assessing unsteady-state moisture behaviour. The second computer program, which solves the moisture transfer equation by finite-different method, was developed. It was shown that the plane of the moisture maximum has the same position according to both used methods.

Thermal management plays a key role in improving the energy efficiency and sustainability of future building envelopes. Here, we focus on the materials perspective and discuss the fundamental needs, current status, and future opportunities for thermal management of buildings. First, we identify the primary considerations and evaluation criteria for high-performance thermal materials. Second, state-of-the-art thermal materials are reviewed, ranging from conventional thermal insulating fiberglass, mineral wool, cellulose, and foams, to aerogels and mesoporous structures, as well as multifunctional thermal management materials. Further, recent progress on passive regulation and thermal energy storage systems are discussed, including sensible heat storage, phase change materials, and radiative cooling. Moreover, we discuss the emerging materials systems with tunable thermal and other physical properties that could potentially enable dynamic and interactive thermal management solutions for future buildings. Finally, we discuss the recent progress in theory and computational design from first-principles atomistic theory, molecular dynamics, to multiscale simulations and machine learning. We expect the rational design that combines data-driven computation and multiscale experiments could bridge the materials properties from microscopic to macroscopic scales and provide new opportunities in improving energy efficiency and enabling adaptive implementation per customized demand for future buildings.

Insulating materials are ubiquitous in a built environment and play a critical role in reducing the energy consumed to maintain habitable indoor environments. Mineral wool insulation (MWI) products, including glass, stone, and slag variants, are the most widely used class of insulating materials in Europe and account for more than 50% of the total market by volume. MWI typically consists of two key components: a mesh of inorganic fibers that are several micrometers in diameter, and an organic thermosetting adhesive commonly referred to as the “binder.” Traditional phenol-formaldehyde-urea (PFU) binders used in the manufacture of MWI are increasingly being scrutinized for the formaldehyde released during their manufacture and service lifetime. The recent classification of formaldehyde as a carcinogen by various safety organizations has accelerated a paradigm shift within the industry toward alternative binder technologies that minimize or indeed eliminate formaldehyde emissions. This review examines more recent strategies for achieving low- or zero-added formaldehyde binders for MWI, with a particular focus on the patent literature. The chemistry underpinning traditional PFU binders is presented and compared to new strategies involving scavenging molecules that decrease formaldehyde emissions, as well as zero-added formaldehyde binder technologies such as polyester, Maillard, and epoxide thermosets.

Nowadays, construction industry is running into a controversial problem of using unsteady-state calculation methods because the level of difficulty of physical processes calculation in modern building materials is increasingly higher than in classical materials which were used previously. It should be stated that it is crucial to develop new methods which allow engineers to use simple equations to calculate complicated tasks. Such method was obtained by Kozlov and it gives an opportunity not to calculate unsteady-state moisture behavior of enclosing structures and evaluate the moisture maximum plane position inside enclosures. The mathematical model of unsteady-state moisture regime was obtained to provide evidence of the Kozlov’s theory. Two computer programs were created. The first program simulated unsteady-state moisture regime inside enclosing structures during a year. The second program calculated the moisture maximum plane position during the period with negative average monthly temperatures. The comparison between these calculation methods was made for an enclosing structure with aerated concrete base and mineral wool insulation. As a result, it was shown that according to the Kozlov’s method the position of moisture maximum is between insulation and exterior stucco. The same result was obtained by unsteady-state moisture regime calculation, which made Kozlov’s theory evidence-based.

The study aims at finding indicators of longevity of the mineral wool products while being used as an thermal insulation layer of building envelope of construction projects with operational life up to 100 years. Subject of the study is valuation of changes in air permeability, compression strength at 10% linear deformation, operational characteristics of material—thermal conductivity, specimen appearance and geometry under cyclic climate effects that simulate environmental factors which affect the state of thermal insulating materials of building envelopes while being used in construction projects. It was conducted a study of life characteristics of Rockwool mineral wool products by Batts Lights (Rockmin) and Ruth Batts (Dachrock max) as the thermal insulating layer of building envelopes with the life time up to 100 years. During the study simulation of climatic impacts on the thermal insulating products was conducted in conditions of normal use of products in building envelopes and in conditions of probable failures of building envelopes. The results of the study show that the stability criteria of physical parameters of the Rockwool mineral wool product by Batts Lights (Rockmin) and Ruth Batts (Dachrock max) do not exceed acceptable limits after massive cyclic climatic impact. This makes possible to estimate the conditional life time of the mentioned Rockwool mineral wool products being not less than 100 years.

This paper deals with measuring the shielding and reflection efficiency of the electromagnetic field. The measured objects were two building materials - a classic brick with air gaps and a brick filled with mineral wool. The experiment was aimed at comparing the shielding and reflection efficiencies of these two materials. From the results of measuring the shielding and reflection efficiency, it is possible to calculate the absorption of the electromagnetic field. Experiment was performed according Standard IEEE 299-2006 Standard: Method for Measuring the Effectiveness of Electromagnetic Shielding Enclosures.

The environmental situation in Russia is characterized by a high level of anthropogenic impact on the environment, significant environmental consequences of past economic activity. Their disposal and storage costs 8-10 % of the cost of products, so the disposal of such waste is of paramount importance.Due to the involvement of multi-tonnage waste in the production of ceramic materials of mass consumption, which include wall materials, it is possible to radically change the parameters of the raw material base of Russia, which also helps to reduce environmental tensions in the regions. The reduction of reserves of traditional natural raw materials makes us look for new ways to replace it with different types of waste. The experience of advanced foreign countries has shown the technical feasibility of this area and the use of more as a tool to protect the environment from pollution. However, almost all basic building materials can be made from waste or from waste in combination with natural raw materials. On the basis of fusible clay and waste basalt-gabbro-norite charge, which is formed in the production of mineral wool obtained ceramic brick with high physical and mechanical properties, brick grade M150 and above. The absolute advantage of the use of multi-tonnage waste is the unloading of the environmental situation, which contributes to the solution of industrial waste disposal and environmental protection. Innovative proposals for the use of waste from the production of mineral wool in the production of wall materials - ceramic bricks based on fusible clay, the novelty of which is confirmed by patents of the Russian Federation.

The purpose of this article is to study the behavior of various types of anti-seismic joints fillers between frame elements and non-structural wall infill on the behavior of multi-storey buildings with a reinforced concrete flat-slab frame under seismic effects. Reinforced concrete buildings are predominant type of construction in developing countries like Ukraine. Seismic performance of these buildings, is not predictable through techniques based on secondary factors such as short column, irregularities in plan and elevation, soft and weak stories, strong beam–weak column can causes serious damages. And also all this factors can be caused by irregular non-structural wall infill. And if much attention is paid to the study of non-structural wall infill effect, then the issue of the expansion joint between the frame and the filling remains unexplored. Also this problem is caused by contradictions in DBN B.1.1-12-2014, which limits the gap between the frame and non-structural wall by 20 mm. But for a typical floor, we see that the frame works normally and at 50 mm (according to pushover analysis) displacements of the floor. Thus, the required 20 mm gap does not perform its function. To determine the degree of impact of the non-bearing walls on the reinforced concrete frame, an experimental program was developed that includes two steps. The first stage is to determine the degree of impact of filling the joints. The second stage is testing the wall fragments, taking into account the effect of filling the deformation joints. This study focuses on the first stage. In this paper the influence of the joint filling was analyzed using the three most widely used types in Ukraine: mineral wool, polystyrene foam and vilatherm. The objects of study are three aerated concrete prisms and one prism made of heavy concrete with filling material. Displacements from vertical loads on test samples are key parameters for determining the effect of joint filler on the behavior of buildings during earthquakes. The second parameter, which was also analyzed, the change of geometric form and complete destruction of the joint filler. This study was undertaken to develop the future Ukrainian Rapid visual screening assessment procedure that takes into account the influence of anti-seismic joints fillers.

A strategy based on cathodic protection (CP) could be a practically feasible means to protect steel piping from corrosion under insulation. However, experimental studies investigating CP of steel through moist insulation are scarce. Herein, CP was explored to protect insulated steel specimens using sacrificial zinc anodes. The conditions to effectively impart CP through the moist insulation have been discussed. The “throwing power” or protection achieved using sacrificial zinc anodes coupled with mild steel specimens in moist insulation was also estimated using copper electroplating. It was validated that the efficacy of CP depends upon the ionic resistivity of the moist insulation and the moisture content (by volume) must be >25% for efficient ionic conductivity through the insulation. The maximum throwing power of CP through the insulation was achieved when zinc was in direct physical contact with mild steel, with zinc to mild steel area ratio being 1:10.

Piping heat insulation consisting of mineral wool as the main layer and a fiberglass cover is deformed and suffers damages during day-to-day operation. This increases the heat losses through insulation when a heat carrier flows through the pipeline. This investigation is devoted to the use of a thin-film coating (TFC) in the arrangements of existing conventional heat insulation on heating networks to improve the insulation’s effectiveness and reduce the heat losses. The effectiveness of a TFC was evaluated experimentally in a model section of a pipeline that enabled us to simulate actual operating conditions of the piping in a heat supply system. The experiment is based on the determination of heat fluxes flowing through the heat insulation of a pipeline using an infinite cylindrical layer method. To theoretically substantiate the energy-saving effect from the application of a TFC, a numerical investigation of thermal processes occurring within the insulation was performed. Since the considered type of insulation is air-permeable and the permeability depends on the state of the main and cover layers, the effect of convection on heat transfer in the porous insulation with a permeable cover on heating network piping was numerically studied. The effect of a TFC on thermal processes and effectiveness indices was analyzed for two methods of a heating network’s installation: indoors or outdoors. The results demonstrate that it is advisable to use a TFC in the existing heat insulation to improve its effectiveness and reduce thermal energy losses due to a decrease in the heat fluxes by 17% after application of the TFC. The numerical predictions suggest that indoor pipelines should be provided with one TFC layer, while outdoor pipelines should be coated with at least two TFC layers.

Due to increasingly stringent requirements in building energy performance, further development of fired clay masonry blocks are essential nowadays for the manufacturers. One of the possible directions for improving thermal performance of the masonry blocks is to fill them with insulating materials. The currently developed bricks are most commonly containing mineral wool thermal insulation filler. The main criteria for manufacturers to develop their products are thermal performance and manufacturability, which leads to unsolved hygrothermal questions. While the filler materials have low thermal conductivities, they may deteriorate in high humidity environment and due to freeze-thaw cycles. The aim of this research is to test existing filled building blocks, to prevent hygrothermal deterioration. The study compares one-dimensional monthly based steady state Glaser method with steady state two-dimensional hygrothermal simulations and dynamic multi-dimensional conjugated heat and moisture transfer simulations. The calculations were made considering Central European Budapest climate. Hygrothermal material properties were measured in laboratory. After the calculations, results show that effective thermal transmittance, maximum freezing depth from the external surface of the plastered masonry blocks and the number of freeze-thaw cycles during a year vary depending on the facade's orientation. The possible freezing zone can reach one third of the masonry block from the external side, and affect the thermal performance of the bricks. The outermost insulation layers of the masonry blocks therefore must selected to bear freeze-thaw cycles and high humidity because of protection aspects. The new aspects of this study can be used to extend the application limits of insulation filled masonry blocks and design these type of masonry blocks against hygrothermal deteroriation.

To reduce the energy consumed by building part, a new method of producing foam glass at low temperature was proposed in this study. Mineral wool waste and waste glass recycled from building construction and demolition (C&D) process were used as major raw materials. In the meanwhile, calcium carbonate (CaCO3), borax (Na2B4O7·10H2O) and sodium phosphate (Na3PO4·12H2O) were added as extra additives, which played the part of foamer, fluxing agent and foam stabilizer, respectively. The effects of different content of each additives and different sintering temperature on the properties of foam glass were investigated. Bulk density, cross-section view and microstructure of the specimens were showed. The experiment results showed that the optimal content of raw materials and additives was 40 wt% mineral wool waste, 60 wt% waste glass, 20 wt% borax, 1–2 wt% calcium carbonate and 2 wt% sodium phosphate, and its optimal sintering temperature was 800 °C. The specimen sintered at this optimal condition had the most uniform foam structure and low bulk density of 0.7 g/cm3. Finally, EnergyPlusTM was used to evaluate the benefit of applying this new foam glass on the reduction on space conditioning loads, especially in relatively colder zones.

Novel ceramic foams have been prepared by high temperature sintering of waste mineral wool and waste glass using SiC as a foaming agent. The aim of the research was to understand the effects of composition and sintering conditions on the properties and microstructure and produce commercially exploitable ceramic foams. Optimum ceramic foams were formed from 40 wt% mineral wool waste and 2 wt% SiC, sintered at 1170 °C using a heating rate of 20 °C/min with a 20 min hold at peak temperature. The ceramic foams produced had a bulk density of 0.71 g/cm3 and a uniform pore size distribution. The research shows that ceramic foams can be formed from waste mineral wool and these can be used for thermal insulation with associated economic and environmental benefits.