At first glance, making up a removable insulation blanket seems somewhat simple – take some insulation, put some mesh on one side, a cover on the other, sew them together, add some rivets so that you can fasten it, and presto!
Of course, we know that in fact it is not quite so simple. Aside from the design aspect –that is ensuring that the insulation blanket fits the part properly, wrapping snugly around the part, and taking into account whatever brackets, screws, and other protrusions might be present – there is the aspect of choosing the appropriate materials with which to manufacture the blanket.
Removable Insulation Blanket Construction
Removable insulation blankets can be divided into 3 main components:
- An outer protective cover—also known as the cold face—designed to shield and protect the insulation from the environment in which it finds itself.
- The insulation mat itself, typically 1″ thick fiberglass, which provides the actual heat containment. Thicknesses vary from ½” up to 4,” depending on the amount of heat reduction the application requires.
- The inner liner—also known as the hot face—which helps to keep the insulation mat in place and may also act as a barrier to protect the insulation mat from fluid seepage.
Aside from these 3 components, there is the fastening system used to secure the insulation blankets in place. The type of fastening used is largely dependent on the type of equipment being covered, the applications for which it will be used, and the environment in which the covered equipment operates. A wide variety of fastening equipment is available for use with removable insulation blankets. Common fastening methods include:
- Stainless steel lacing wire
- Straps
- Springs
- Snaps
- Velcro