Thermal insulator is a term for a compound material which can reduce the Heat transfer rate. There are two kind of them: organic foams and Inorganic foams. There are Organic foams like Polystyrene, Polyurethane, Polyethylene , Phenolic and etc. Stone wool, Slag wool, Glass wool, Glass foam, Calcium silicate , Ceramic fiber, Vermiculite and Perlite are all sort of inorganic foams. Due to the principal porpuse of insulation, which is reduction of the heat transfer, insulators must enjoy special capabilities in reducing the heat transfer by Conduction, Convection, and Radiation. Selecting an appropriate insulation starts by asking some rudimentary questions:

1. What is the service temperature of the system which is amied at for insulating?
In general, there are three kind of systems which are in need for insulation:
• Between -75oc to -20oc : Cooling devices, Ice cold water systems, Industrial Cooling Systems and etc.
• Between -20oc to 350oc: Steam pipelines, Power or process piping, Ovens, Industrial chimneys and etc.
• Between 350oc to 1000oc: Power generation devices, Turbines, Ovens, Blast furnace Power or process piping and etc.
2.Which kind of systems: indoor, outdoor or a combination of both?
This question will help you to pinpoint where the insulation system is in need to be protectd from Air, Corrosive atmosphere, Water and chemicals, being abused, or other probable incidents.
3. Will the Ambient temperature be steady? Or it will have fluctuations?
Answering to this particular question will lead you to select a suitable insulatior which can protect your system from Distillation, wasting heat, Endothermic process, or other probable problems.

4. What should be considered for insulation of a Cooling system?
The major reason to insulate low temperature systems is the Condensation control. When a system or a tube has a lower temrature comparing to ambient temperature, Moisture in the air will be either Distilled or frozen inside or upon insulatort, and upon the cold Distilling Tube. And this may bring about the the Corrosion of insulator unless the system is protected by an appropriate Steam desensitization or the the insulator’s diagonal is thick enough.