[Gasification] r.e. Rockwool

[Mark & Elena Gallmeier]

Dear Tom & All,

I've used perlite for a light weight, low cost and readily available 
refractory with very good results.  I've used it both as a loose fill 
contained in enclosed spaces, and also mixed with hydrocal gypsum plaster to 
serve as a binder for rigidity to form self supporting wall sides.  In that 
instance I mixed it and rammed it between a bucket wall and a removable 
aluminum flashing tube form.

Powdered drywall joint compound could also be used to make a binder.  Just 
avoid ready-mix compounds since those contain latex.

This paper by the Perlite Institute has a discussion of foundry and high 
temperature (1100 C) perlite applications.

http://www.perlite.org/perlite_info/guides/loose_fill/cryogenic/7%20high%20temp,%20steel%20foundry.pdf

Perlite is available in the garden department of Home Depot for about $10 
per 4 cubic foot bag.  Wal Mart sells it in smaller quantities, but I've 
never bought it there.

Best Wishes,

Mark


> Message: 1
> Date: Thu, 11 Jan 2007 16:58:36 -0700
> From: Thomas Reed <tombreed at comcast.net>
> Subject: [Gasification] ROCKWOOL
> To: Frans Peeters <peetersfrans at telenet.be>
> Cc: Martin Boll Dr <Boll.bn at t-online.de>, GASIFICATION
> <GASIFICATION at listserv.repp.org>, 'AJH' <ajh at sylva.icuklive.co.uk>,
> "STOVES at LISTSERV.REPP.ORG" <STOVES at LISTSERV.REPP.ORG>
> Message-ID: <45A6CF2C.60806 at comcast.net>
> Content-Type: text/plain; charset=ISO-8859-15; format=flowed
>
> Dear Frans and All:
>
> Thanks for replying to my Rockwool questions.  I found the discussion of
> thermal properties below on the web.
>
> It is often made from slag (already melted, right composition, should be
> cheap) and was widely available in the US 50 years ago.  My impression
> is that we now use fibreglas instead (peak temperature 500C, relatively
> cheap) or Kaowool (many names) (made from spun al silicate, peak
> temperature 1600 C, VERY expensive) and can't get Rockwool (peak temp
> 1000 C) produced in the US.  Rockwool would be adequate for most stove
> and gasifier applications.  Also seems to be good for agricultural
> applications that Kaowool wouldn't fit. PRobably the iron content.
>
> Any comments on where to get it?
>
> Yours truly, TOM REED             BEF