robin
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Post by robin on Dec 8, 2012 7:26:56 GMT -8
I'm having a hard time finding perlite, but I talked to a stove dealer who can sell me yellow fiber, which he says looks and feels similar to fiberglass, but is meant for insulating interiors of fireplaces and wood stoves. Would this type of insulation be okay instead of perlite or vermiculite? I understand that I would need to avoid crimping and compressing it to maintain it's insulating power, but perhaps it could be torn and dropped in pieces into my insulating tube.
Does anybody know how these different materials compare?
Thanks, Robin
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Post by grizbach on Dec 8, 2012 13:53:35 GMT -8
I don't know about the insulation you describe. Perlite can be found at nurseries, home depot, any place that deals with soil amendments.
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robin
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Post by robin on Dec 8, 2012 17:54:37 GMT -8
I have a few more details now. The insulation in question is Roxul - fire resistant insulation. I believe stone wool or mineral wool refers to the same thing.
From the manufacturer's website:
-Fire resistance properties, non-combustible -Designed for high temperature applications -Melting point of approximately 2150°F (1177°C) -Service temperature of 1200°F (650°C)
It comes in bats 2-3" thick and 2 ft x 4 ft. It also comes in bags of fluff that can be blown into walls. It's the fluff I'm considering if I need to fill an irregular space (square brick heat riser inside a 25 gallon steel drum).
I've talked to about 5 Home Depot employees and called other stores and none of them seem to know what perlite is. On local hardware websites, I can only find small, expensive bags of perlite mix, which include soil and other materials. Meanwhile, I'm waiting on some replies from brick and masonry suppliers and a nursery to see if they have any tips on finding perlite in the middle of winter.
But I could walk into Home Depot tomorrow and get Roxul.
By the way, does anybody know the actual maximum temperature to be expected in a rocket mass heater with an 8" inner diameter to the heat riser?
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Post by satamax on Dec 8, 2012 23:03:12 GMT -8
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robin
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Post by robin on Dec 9, 2012 7:09:37 GMT -8
Excellent. That's good to know. And yes, that's the stuff. Thanks.
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Post by satamax on Dec 9, 2012 8:46:43 GMT -8
Well, i have one thing to say about it, it change consistency a bit when heated. The panels like this one, tend to get softer.
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