UNIFRAX® FIBERFRAX® Ceramic Fiber Insulation Papers
UNIFRAX® is the largest ceramic fiber producer worldwide with in-house paper-making capabilities. By blending different fibers, binders, and additives while varying the manufacturing process, UNIFRAX® now produces a variety of Fiberfrax paper products for a wide range of applications.
The company's Fiberfrax® ceramic fiber paper product line is a unique family of products manufactured by forming aluminosilicate fibers in a nonwoven matrix. The ceramic fibers are randomly orientated during manufacture, then held in place with a latex binder system. A specialized paper-making process is statistically controlled to form uniform, lightweight, flexible sheets.
FIBERFRAX® ceramic fiber papers are manufactured by forming Fiberfrax fibers into a uniform, lightweight, flexible sheet or roll. All the papers, except 972 and 882, have an organic binder that outgasses around 500°F. They exhibit excellent chemical stability, resisting attack from most corrosive agents except for hydrofluoric, phosphoric acids and concentrated alkalies. If FIBERFRAX® papers are wet by water or steam, all thermal and physical properties are completely restored upon drying. No water of hydration is present in most FIBERFRAX® paper grades. FIBERFRAX® papers have good dielectric strengths. With the exception of the inorganic series, they will generate small amounts of smoke and trace element outgassing during the initial exposure to temperatures above 450°F.
FIBERFRAX® Paper Features & Benefits
FIBERFRAX® ceramic fiber papers offer many unique problem-solving advantages including:
• High-temperature stability
• Low thermal conductivity
• Low heat storage
• Weight reduction
• Resiliency
• Thermal shock resistance
• High heat reflectance
• Good dielectric strength
• Excellent corrosion resistance
• Easy to wrap, shape, or cut
• Ease of fabrication
FIBERFRAX® Paper Product Range
FIBERFRAX® ceramic fiber papers are differentiated by thickness, density, fiber index, and chemistry. They are often segmented into three groups (grades):
Utility grades including 440 and Rollboard paper
They are the most cost-effective products in applications where performance characteristics are less critical.
440 paper is a low-cost, high-strength composite paper made from a combination of ceramic fiber, inert fillers, and reinforcing fiberglass. The fiberglass gives added strength to the 440 paper at operating temperatures between 450 and 1300°F. This product is formulated with a fire retardant smoke suppressant reducing the effects of the organic binder burnout.
Rollboard paper. The lower density, binder chemistry, and bulk ceramic fiber grade used to manufacture Fiberfrax Rollboard paper result in a product with lower cost, higher flexibility, and reduced smoke and odor during burnout. Rollboard paper is best suited for wrapping intricate shapes or molds and as a standard grade single use product in disposable applications.
Standard grades which include 550, 970, and 880 ceramic fiber papers used where reliability and consistency are important.
550 paper is made from unwashed high-purity ceramic fiber. Its higher density and binders give performance properties ideal for most refractory applications.
970 paper is made from high-purity Fiberfrax washed fiber. During the manufacture of this product, a large portion of the unfiberized particles in the bulk fiber are removed prior to paper lay-up. The washing of the fiber gives great uniformity to the paperʼs structure while reducing weight and improving the thermal performance; in addition, this product is preferred in automatic die stamping operations where unfiberized particles in the paper can lead to excessive die wear. Withstands temperatures to 2300 F. Excellent for aircraft firewalls. Available in 24" wide. Sold by the foot.
Premium grade 882-H, 972-H, and HSA ceramic fiber papers are used either when organic outgassing cannot be tolerated or when thermal performance is critical.
880 paper is made from a higher alumina content, shorter, smaller diam eter fiber and laid up at higher densities. These product parameters lead to reduced shrinkage, higher strength, an increased operating temperature range and better chemical resistivity. This product is used in applications where the service life of standard ceramic fiber papers is reduced.
HSA paper is made from high surface area (HSA) fibers that contain a low percentage of unfiberized material. Use of this fiber results in a paper with lighter weight and extremely low thermal conductivity, making it the choice of the aerospace industry. It is also used when uniform pore structure and a low content of unfiberized material are required in applications such as glass contact or gas filtration.
Inorganic papers offered without the organic binder system. These products are completely free of organics and used when higher fired strength is required or in processes and applications where even small amounts of organic burnout is unacceptable.
Two temperature grades and several thicknesses and widths are available.
- 972-H is heat treated during the manufacturing process to remove organic binders. As manufactured, 972-H paper remains soft and flexible allowing it to conform to most shapes or contours.
- 882-H has higher temperature stability and higher density than 972-H Paper. The fiber geometry and product density lead to the maximum burn strength of an unbind ered paper.
FIBERFRAX® Paper Uses & Applications
They can be used as thermal insulation, hot gas filtration media, high-temperature gasket, separator, or parting agent, highly efficient refractory backup or for dependable fire protection and molten metal splash and spark protection.
Typical applications in respective industries include:
Aerospace: heat shields, nose cone ablative shields, igniter line protection, oxygen generators
Appliances: self-cleaning ovens, woodburning stoves, electrical heaters, mobile home appliance insulation
Ceramic and Glass: ware separator, metal clad brick gaskets, glass tank refractory backup
Petrochemical: transfer line protection, welding, brazing protection
Automotive: muffler insulation, heat shielding
Steel and Nonferrous: investment casting mold wrapping, ladle refractory backup, thermocouple tube protection, heat treating parting agent, foundry gasketing, ladle shroud wrap.
FIBERFRAX® Paper Certifications/Approvals
Fiberfrax papers have been independently tested in accordance with ASTM methods for conformance to a wide variety of industry standards. Several Fiberfrax papers are listed as “Recognized Components” with Underwriters Laboratories, Inc. They conform to U.S. Coast Guard requirements for incombustible materials.
