Because the pores are smaller than the distance an air molecule travels between collisions. Air conducts heat when its molecules collide with one another and pass energy along, and at normal pressure a molecule covers roughly 70 nanometres between collisions.

In a nanoporous structure, a molecule hits the pore wall before it reaches another molecule, so that energy transfer largely stops happening. The air is still present but it has been prevented from doing what makes air conduct. Conventional insulation traps air and stops it moving, which is a different and less effective mechanism.

Choose on your genuine maximum temperature including upset conditions, not on comfort. HT-1000 works to 1000 degrees Celsius, MT-800C to 800.

If your process runs at 700 degrees and stays there, MT-800C is the correct choice and HT-1000 costs more for capability you will never use. If your process runs at 750 but occasionally touches 850, the cheaper grade is a false economy that ends in a lining replacement. Tell us both the normal and the peak figure.

That is a calculation rather than a catalogue lookup, and it needs three inputs: your hot face temperature, the cold face temperature you need to achieve, and the conductivity of the material at those temperatures.

The conductivity figures are published on this page at four temperature points specifically so that you can run the calculation yourself. If you would rather we did it, send the hot face temperature, the target cold face temperature and the available space, and we will come back with a thickness.

Considerably better thermally, at three to four times lower conductivity, which means far less thickness for the same result. It also contains no respirable fibre, which matters increasingly as some refractory ceramic fibres face classification and handling restrictions in various markets.

Ceramic fibre remains cheaper per unit and more tolerant of physical abuse and moisture. If space is plentiful, the environment is rough or wet, and cost is the driver, ceramic fibre is still a reasonable answer. Where space is constrained or the handling burden of fibre is a problem, microporous board is usually the better choice.

Because the insulating mechanism depends on the nanopore structure, and water entering those pores destroys it. A wet panel is not a temporarily impaired panel, it is a panel that has lost the property it was bought for.

Keep the material dry during installation and in service. If moisture exposure is unavoidable, hydrophobic treatment is available on some products, but it must be specified at order stage because it is part of the manufacturing process rather than a coating applied afterwards.

It depends on handling rather than on thermal performance. Uncoated is fine for panels fully enclosed inside a structure that will not be touched again. Shrink film protects through transport. Aluminium foil adds a reflective face and better durability. Aluminium composite film resists tearing during difficult installations. Glass fibre cloth gives the toughest and most temperature tolerant facing.

The core panel is fragile because low density is what makes it insulate well. If the panel will be handled repeatedly or fitted into a tight space, spend on the facing rather than replacing damaged panels.

No. The structure is built from nanoparticle agglomerates rather than from drawn fibres, so there is nothing present that can become an airborne respirable fibre during cutting, installation or removal.

The components are not considered hazardous under prescribed operating conditions. Request the product MSDS if your approval process requires documentation, and we will supply it with the quotation.

Yes. Cutting, drilling and special shapes are produced to your drawing, and for complex geometry this is usually worth doing.

Site cutting of a low density panel produces waste and inconsistent joints, and every joint is a heat path. Factory cut pieces arrive ready to fit, install faster and generally produce a better finished lining than the same material cut on site.

Per panel, yes. On installed cost, frequently not, and the comparison is worth running properly.

Account for the thickness needed to reach your target, the labour hours to install it, freight for the volume, warehouse space while it waits, and any process capacity gained or lost to lining thickness. Where internal space has value, such as in a kiln or a furnace where a thinner lining means more usable volume, the calculation frequently favours microporous board despite the higher panel price.

Both are available. Rigid board holds its own shape and suits flat linings and structural positions. Flexible board conforms to curved surfaces such as vessel walls and ducting without needing to be cut into segments.

Tell us the geometry of the surface being lined and we will recommend the form. A curved surface lined with rigid board needs many small pieces and many joints, while flexible board wraps it in far fewer.

Standard sizes and thicknesses carry a lower minimum because the material already exists in that form. Custom sizes, special shapes and hydrophobic treatment need their own production run, which raises both the minimum and the lead time.

Tell us the specification and rough volume and we will confirm the exact figure with your quotation. Note that customised production to your use scale is available subject to a certain minimum quantity, which we will state clearly rather than leave vague.

Payment is normally by T/T, structured as a deposit with the balance settled before shipment. We confirm the exact split with your quotation.

EXW, FOB, CIF and DAP terms are all available. Board is bulky relative to its weight, so tell us the destination early and we will advise on the most efficient packing configuration for your volume.