Materials imbued with heat protection provide a diverse array of advantages when applied to equipment. They offer protection, energy-efficiency, and can help apparatus to work safely even under intense heat. High silica fabric and textiles can deliver heat protection and, thus, be used in items like fire and furnace curtains and welding blankets. The heat-resistant attributes of high silica fabric are due to its composition being made of over 90% silica. With such extensive levels of silica, high silica fabric can remain robust in heats that go up to 982°C • 1800°F.
It can even be applied to heats that reach even higher, like 1649°C• 3000°F if implemented for shorter periods of time. There are many advantages to using high silica fabric for heat protection. Read on to discover what they are.
Forming High Silica Fabric
The production of high silica fabric involves a variety of processes that help glass fibers to become materials that contain high levels of silica. Firstly, glass fibers, like e-glass or s-glass fibers, go through a chemical leaching procedure. This process takes away non-silica elements, like aluminum and boron, through an acid solution. It can enhance the levels of silica to around 90-96%, transforming the glass fibers into high silica fibers. Once the chemical treatment is complete, a high-temperature heat treatment is undertaken to improve the material’s thermal stability. The treatment can take away residual chemicals and ensure the fabric remains strong against higher temperatures. Once the high silica fibers are formed, they can be spun into yarns, before they’re weaved into a fabric.
The Advantages of Using High Silica Fabric For Heat Protection
1. Temperature Levels
As high silica fabric is able to tolerate temperatures that go to 982°C • 1800°F, it can be utilized in a variety of applications that need materials that can be maintained under constant heat, like welding and furnace insulation. The heat protection offered by high silica fabric ensures devices keep their functionality, even when placed under higher temperatures. An area that utilizes high silica fabric for heat protection is the defense industry. It uses this fabric for heat shields in equipment like tanks, which need to function under extensive heat in locations like deserts.
2. A Defence Against Fire
High silica fabric can provide a means of protection when a fire occurs. Its non-combustible nature ensures that it’s difficult to burn. Thus, it can act as a shield against fire. This material can be found in fire blankets and can help to stop a fire from spreading around a building. It’s also utilized in welding curtains and blankets. These items can defend workers and stop them from being affected by molten metal splatter, sparks, and heat. Therefore, their safety can be prioritized when undertaking activities like cutting, grinding, or welding.
3. Thermal Insulation
A useful attribute of high silica fabric is its low thermal conductivity. With this property comes the ability to utilize this fabric as a thermal insulator. So, when high silica fabric is applied as heat protection, it can make sure the heat remains in a specific location. Acting as a heat barrier, high silica fabric can ensure equipment and people are defended against higher temperatures. For equipment specifically, it can help to improve their lifespans and ensure more sensitive devices can function as intended.
There are several industries that utilize high silica fabric as thermal insulation. This includes the nuclear industry. Here, high silica fabric is used with reactor components, thermally insulating them to control the heat from nuclear reactions. Aerospace also applies high silica fabric as thermal insulation, particularly for aircraft and spacecraft parts.
4. Flexibility
An additional strength of using high silica fabric for heat protection is its flexibility. Numerous materials can resist high-temperatures, but they can also turn stiff or brittle. Some of these materials include ceramics, like zirconia and alumina, high temperature polymers, such as polytetrafluoroethylene, and high-chromium stainless steels. High silica fabric doesn’t do this. Instead, high silica fabric can stay flexible. It’s simple to shape and cut to be customized into items like insulation blankets, gaskets, and coated fabrics. This transformative ability means that high silica fabric can be produced as precisely as possible.
5. Durability
When high silica fabric is utilized in an environment with a high-temperature, it will keep its structural integrity. The structural integrity of high silica fabric ensures it does not experience vaporization or will melt in heat. High silica fabric will not break down. Instead, it will be able to continue offering protection against heat.
Mid-Mountain Materials, Inc. Can Help You Procure High Silica Fabric
The attributes of high silica fabric make it a solid choice for use as heat protection. Not only can it resist extremely high temperatures, but it’s durable, flexible and offers thermal insulation and defends against fires. We, Mid-Mountain Materials Inc., offer SILTEX® Woven Silica Fabric as a material possessing the ability to withstand heat, chemicals and sparks. Produced with 96% amorphous silica fibers, SILTEX® Woven Silica Fabric can remain strong against sustained heats of 982°C • 1800°F , often being used for furnace curtains, welding blankets, and thermal barrier insulation. Take a look at our SILTEX° Woven Silica Fabric page to learn more about this material (and our high silica textiles) and how it can supply the heat protection your equipment requires.
