A ceramic fiber blanket is a needled mat of refractory ceramic fiber at 64 to 160 kg/m³ (4 to 10 lb/ft³), classified at 1260 °C (2,300 °F) or 1425 to 1430 °C (2,597 to 2,606 °F) in zirconia grades. In UK and Indian trade the same product is the ceramic fibre blanket, and US buyers order it by density and rating as the 8 lb or 2600F blanket.
ASTM C892-19(2024) specifies the blanket by six Types up to 1649 °C (3,000 °F) and six density Grades, while EN 1094-1:2008 classifies it by a 24-hour shrinkage of no more than 4 %. The fiber is classified Carc. 1B H350i under CLP Annex VI (index 650-017-00-8, in application since 2010-12-01). Blanket is one insulating form of refractory materials, next to bricks and castables.
A blanket's R-value falls as mean temperature rises, and plain blanket takes hot gas up to 12.2 m/s (40 ft/s) in producer guidance.
Every value names its standard and edition, the product data sheet or the dated source it comes from; see our methodology and fact-checking process.
The table below summarizes the blanket's main attributes.
| Attribute | Value |
|---|---|
| Form | Needled, binder-free mat (air-laid fiber, mechanically needled) |
| Fiber class | Refractory ceramic fiber (aluminosilicate wool), CAS 142844-00-6 |
| Densities | 64, 96, 128, 160 kg/m³ (4, 6, 8, 10 lb/ft³), Morgan Thermal Ceramics series |
| Classification temperature | 1260 °C (2,300 °F) standard and high-purity grades; 1425 to 1430 °C (2,597 to 2,606 °F) zirconia and chromia grades (named products) |
| Rules | ASTM C892-19(2024) Types and Grades; EN 1094-1:2008 classification |
| CLP | Carc. 1B H350i, Annex VI index 650-017-00-8 |
What Is a Ceramic Fiber Blanket?#
A ceramic fiber blanket is high-temperature insulation wool that is air-laid into a mat and mechanically needled for handling strength, with no binder, so it stays fully inorganic and gives no binder smoke on first firing. The fiber industry association ECFIA lists needled blanket as one of eight forms of high-temperature insulation wool (HTIW), with bulk wool, modules, board, paper and felt, vacuum-formed shapes, mastics and textiles.
EN 1094-1:2008 defines HTIW as man-made mineral wool for heat insulation above 600 °C (1,112 °F). Blanket shares that definition with board, paper and modules, and the family-wide rules for every wool form sit under refractory insulation.
ASTM C892 Types and Grades for Fiber Blanket#
ASTM C892-19(2024) specifies high-temperature fiber blanket by Type, from Type I at 732 °C (1,350 °F) to Type V at 1649 °C (3,000 °F) maximum use temperature, and by Grade 3 to 12. The Grade number names the density in lb/ft³, and each Grade carries a density window, a minimum tensile strength and, for Grades 4, 6 and 8, a maximum apparent thermal conductivity at 1093 °C (2,000 °F) mean.
The standard belongs to ASTM Committee C16 (Subcommittee C16.23). Shot, the non-fibrous content, is counted only after 5 h at the maximum use temperature of the Type, so a Type IV blanket is fired at 1427 °C (2,600 °F) first.
The Type table below lists the maximum use temperature of each Type.
| Type | Maximum use temperature °C (°F) |
|---|---|
| I | 732 (1,350) |
| II | 871 (1,600) |
| IIA | 1093 (2,000) |
| III | 1260 (2,300) |
| IV | 1427 (2,600) |
| V | 1649 (3,000) |
The Grade table below gives the limits in inch-pound units, which govern the standard, with SI values computed from them.
| Grade | Density lb/ft³ (kg/m³) | Max k at 2,000 °F mean, BTU·in/(h·ft²·°F) (W/(m·K)) | Min tensile lb/in (N/m) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 3 | 2.5 to 4 (40 to 64) | n/a | 1.0 (175) |
| 4 | 3.4 to 5.5 (54 to 88) | 5.47 (0.79) | 1.5 (263) |
| 6 | 5.1 to 8 (82 to 128) | 4.75 (0.69) | 2.0 (350) |
| 8 | 6.8 to 10.5 (109 to 168) | 4.18 (0.60) | 3.0 (525) |
| 10 | 8.5 to 13 (136 to 208) | n/a | 4.0 (701) |
| 12 | 10.2 to 16 (163 to 256) | n/a | 5.0 (876) |
Blanket Classification Temperature Under EN 1094-1:2008#
EN 1094-1:2008 classifies a blanket at the temperature where its permanent linear change after 24 h stays within 4 %, against 2 % for boards and preformed shapes. The rule covers blankets, felts, mats and papers; EN 1094-1:2008 was published on 2008-07-01, and CEN decided on 2026-10-21 to revise it.
The classification temperature is a test result, not a service temperature. Measured by the EN 1094-1 method, Kaowool Blanket S shrinks 3.0 % after 24 h at 1200 °C (2,192 °F) and 5.5 % at 1300 °C (2,372 °F) (Morgan Thermal Ceramics data sheet), so it is classified at 1260 °C (2,300 °F).
Blanket Densities: 4, 6, 8 and 10 Pound Grades#
Ceramic fiber blanket is sold in four densities, 64, 96, 128 and 160 kg/m³ (4, 6, 8 and 10 lb/ft³), and the 128 kg/m³ blanket is the 8 lb blanket. The densities form the Morgan Thermal Ceramics series (Kaowool S, Cerablanket, Cerachem), and Cerablanket tensile strength rises from 30 kPa (4.4 psi) at 64 kg/m³ to 110 kPa (16.0 psi) at 160 kg/m³. Three density points follow.
- Grade fit: a 128 kg/m³ blanket lies inside the C892 Grade 8 window and at the upper limit of Grade 6.
- Measurement basis: EN 1094-1:2008 measures density dried at 110 ± 5 °C (230 ± 9 °F).
- Module density: modules compress blanket to 160 to 300 kg/m³ (10 to 19 lb/ft³) in the EN 1094-1:2008 definition.
Trade and Regional Names for Ceramic Fiber Blanket#
Four name patterns describe the same needled product, listed below.
- Generic names: needled ceramic fiber blanket, RCF blanket, ceramic wool blanket, fiber blanket insulation.
- US density and rating names: 8 lb, #8 or 8 pcf blanket; 2300F and 2600F blanket.
- UK and EU names: 128 kg/m³ blanket; 1260 and 1430 grade.
- Indian names: ceramic fibre blanket 128 density.
What Is Ceramic Fiber Blanket Made Of?#
A standard ceramic fiber blanket is about 44 % Al2O3 and 56 % SiO2 by mass, the typical analysis of Cerablanket, and its fiber class is refractory ceramic fiber (aluminosilicate wool, CAS 142844-00-6). The fiber is made by melting calcined kaolin, or alumina with silica, near 2000 °C (3,632 °F) and fiberizing the melt by spinning or blowing (NIOSH criteria document 2006-123).
The composition table below sets one product analysis beside the typical ranges of EN 1094-1:2008, all in mass %.
| Basis | SiO2 | Al2O3 | Other |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cerablanket, typical product value (Morgan Thermal Ceramics data sheet) | 56 | 44 | Fe2O3 0.15 |
| EN 1094-1:2008 typical range, aluminosilicate wool | 44 to 54 | 46 to 56 | < 1 |
| EN 1094-1:2008 typical range, alumino-zirconium-silicate wool | > 48 | < 37 | ZrO2 < 20; other < 1 |
The EN 1094-1:2008 ranges are typical, not requirements, and neither EN 1094-1:2008 nor ASTM C892-19(2024) sets an Al2O3 limit for blanket. Fiber chemistry and after-service behavior are covered under refractory ceramic fiber.
Standard, High-Purity, Zirconia and Chromia Blanket Grades#
Four blanket grades exist: standard, high-purity, zirconia and chromia, each identified in the table below by one named product. A zirconia fiber blanket lifts the classification by 170 °C (306 °F): Durablanket 2600 carries 15 to 17 % ZrO2 and classifies at 1430 °C (2,606 °F), while Cerachrome reaches 1425 °C (2,597 °F) with 2.8 % Cr2O3 instead of zirconia. Both minor oxides raise the temperature at which the fiber's 24-hour shrinkage reaches the EN 1094-1:2008 limit.
The grade table below names one product per grade with its chemistry and classification temperature.
| Grade | Named product (maker data sheet) | Chemistry, mass % | Classification temperature |
|---|---|---|---|
| Standard | Cerablanket (Morgan Thermal Ceramics) | Al2O3 44, SiO2 56 | 1260 °C (2,300 °F) |
| High-purity | Durablanket HP-S (Alkegen, formerly Unifrax) | Al2O3 43 to 47, SiO2 53 to 57 | 1260 °C (2,300 °F) |
| Zirconia | Durablanket 2600 (Alkegen, formerly Unifrax); zirconia feed: zircon and stabilized zirconia | Al2O3 29 to 31, SiO2 53 to 55, ZrO2 15 to 17 | 1430 °C (2,606 °F) |
| Chromia | Cerachrome (Morgan Thermal Ceramics) | Al2O3 43, SiO2 54, Cr2O3 2.8 | 1425 °C (2,597 °F) |
Does a Ceramic Fiber Blanket Contain Binders or Additives?#
Needled ceramic fiber blanket contains no binder and no additive: needling gives it strength, and melt chemistry, such as zirconia or chromia, gives it its grade. Unifrax describes its needled blanket as "completely inorganic", and Morgan Thermal Ceramics cites "no smoke emission due to binder burn out" for its blanket, so a new blanket lining has nothing to burn off at first heat.
Binder appears only in blanket-derived products: rigidized blanket is pre-impregnated with colloidal silica, and coated blanket carries a colloidal silica rigidizer sprayed onto the face, so both resist gas velocities that plain blanket cannot. The silica sol chemistry is described under colloidal silica binders.
Ceramic Fiber Blanket Properties: Standard Requirements and Typical Values#
Blanket data come in two kinds: limits that ASTM C892-19(2024) or EN 1094-1:2008 set for every product of a Type, Grade or classification, and typical values that one named blanket reached. A typical value never proves that a product meets a Grade.
| Property | Standard requirement | Typical value (product, maker data sheet) | Method |
|---|---|---|---|
| Classification temperature | EN 1094-1:2008: 24 h permanent linear change ≤ 4 % (blanket); ASTM C892-19(2024) Type ceiling, for example Type III 1260 °C (2,300 °F) | 1260 °C (2,300 °F) Kaowool, Cerablanket (Morgan), Durablanket S and HP-S (Unifrax); 1425 °C (2,597 °F) Cerachem, Cerachrome (Morgan); 1430 °C (2,606 °F) Durablanket 2600 (Unifrax) | EN 1094-1:2008 |
| Permanent linear change, 24 h | ≤ 4 % at the classification temperature, EN 1094-1:2008 | Kaowool Blanket S (Morgan): 1.5, 2.2, 3.0, 5.5 % at 1000, 1100, 1200, 1300 °C (1,832, 2,012, 2,192, 2,372 °F); Kaowool Blanket SZr (Morgan): 1.0, 2.0, 3.0 % at 1200, 1300, 1400 °C (2,192, 2,372, 2,552 °F) | EN 1094-1:2008; permanent linear change |
| Bulk density | ASTM C892-19(2024) Grade window, Grade 8: 6.8 to 10.5 lb/ft³ (109 to 168 kg/m³) | 64, 96, 128, 160 kg/m³ (4, 6, 8, 10 lb/ft³), Kaowool S, Cerablanket, Cerachem (Morgan) | EN 1094-1:2008, dried at 110 °C (230 °F) |
| Thermal conductivity | ASTM C892-19(2024) Grade 8: max 4.18 BTU·in/(h·ft²·°F) (0.60 W/(m·K)) at 1093 °C (2,000 °F) mean | Cerachem 128 kg/m³ (Morgan): 0.06 to 0.34 W/(m·K) (0.42 to 2.36 BTU·in/(h·ft²·°F)) at 200 to 1200 °C (392 to 2,192 °F) mean | ASTM C201 on the data sheet; current edition C201-24 |
| Tensile strength | ASTM C892-19(2024) Grade 8: min 3.0 lb/in (525 N/m) | Cerablanket (Morgan): 30 to 110 kPa (4.4 to 16.0 psi) at 64 to 160 kg/m³ | EN 1094-1:2008 on the data sheet |
| Mean fiber diameter | n/a | Durablanket S (Unifrax): 2.5 to 3.5 µm | n/a |
| Specific heat | n/a | Durablanket S, HP-S, 2600 (Unifrax): 1.13 kJ/(kg·K) (0.27 BTU/(lb·°F)) at 1093 °C (2,000 °F) | n/a |
| Melting point | n/a | Durablanket S, HP-S (Unifrax): 1760 °C (3,200 °F) | n/a |
| Other properties and tests | see class page | see class page | properties of refractory materials |
Product tensile values use the EN 1094-1:2008 method in kPa, while ASTM C892-19(2024) states a force per unit width in lb/in, so the two are never compared directly. Fiber diameter, specific heat and melting point carry no standard value at all.
Thermal Conductivity and R-Value of Blanket by Mean Temperature#
A 128 kg/m³ (8 lb/ft³) ceramic fiber blanket has no single R-value, because its conductivity rises with mean temperature. The Cerachem blanket (Morgan Thermal Ceramics data sheet, 12/2020) conducts 0.06 W/(m·K) at 200 °C (392 °F) mean and 0.27 W/(m·K) at 1000 °C (1,832 °F) mean by ASTM C201, so 25.4 mm (1 in) gives R-2.40 at the lower and R-0.53 at the higher mean temperature. R per inch is 1 / k in BTU·in/(h·ft²·°F) (1 W/(m·K) = 6.933 BTU·in/(h·ft²·°F)); metric R is thickness in meters divided by k.
The R-value table below applies both formulas; every R is calculated.
| Mean temperature °C (°F) | k W/(m·K) (BTU·in/(h·ft²·°F)) | R per inch (h·ft²·°F/BTU) | R of 25.4 mm (m²·K/W) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 200 (392) | 0.06 (0.42) | 2.40 | 0.42 |
| 400 (752) | 0.10 (0.69) | 1.44 | 0.25 |
| 600 (1,112) | 0.15 (1.04) | 0.96 | 0.17 |
| 800 (1,472) | 0.20 (1.39) | 0.72 | 0.13 |
| 1000 (1,832) | 0.27 (1.87) | 0.53 | 0.094 |
| 1200 (2,192) | 0.34 (2.36) | 0.42 | 0.075 |
The C892 Grade 8 ceiling is a limit, not a measured value, and other methods do not compare with ASTM C201: the hot-wire method of ASTM C1113/C1113M-09(2024) reads 10 to 30 % above C201. Methods and their differences are set out under thermal conductivity of refractories and insulation.
Classification Temperature Versus Continuous Use Rating#
A blanket runs continuously below its classification temperature, at the maximum continuous use rating its maker states; EN 1094-1:2008 sets the classification test, not that margin. The table below lists five named blankets.
| Product (maker data sheet) | Classification temperature | Continuous use or recommended operating rating |
|---|---|---|
| Kaowool blanket (Morgan Thermal Ceramics) | 1260 °C (2,300 °F) | continuous use 1093 °C (2,000 °F) |
| Durablanket S and HP-S (Alkegen, formerly Unifrax) | 1260 °C (2,300 °F) | recommended operating 1177 °C (2,150 °F) |
| Cerachem (Morgan Thermal Ceramics) | 1425 °C (2,597 °F) | continuous use 1315 °C (2,400 °F) |
| Cerachrome (Morgan Thermal Ceramics) | 1425 °C (2,597 °F) | continuous use 1371 °C (2,500 °F) |
| Durablanket 2600 (Alkegen, formerly Unifrax) | 1430 °C (2,606 °F) | recommended operating 1343 °C (2,450 °F) |
The two products classified at 1260 °C carry ratings 84 °C (150 °F) apart, one stated as continuous use and one as recommended operating temperature, so the gap below classification is the maker's statement, not a rule. Data sheets also print 2,600 °F for products classified at 1425 or 1430 °C, the C892 Type IV figure, so a "2600F blanket" needs its rule named.
Is There a 3,000 °F (1649 °C) Ceramic Fiber Blanket?#
ASTM C892-19(2024) Type V covers fiber blanket up to 1649 °C (3,000 °F), but the named ceramic fiber blankets classify no higher than 1430 °C (2,606 °F), so a blanket rated near 3,000 °F is polycrystalline wool.
EN 1094-1:2008 defines polycrystalline wool (PCW) at about 72 to 97 % Al2O3 and 3 to 28 % SiO2, and PCW is made by a sol-gel route, not from a melt. The CCEWOOL PCW blanket classifies at 1600 °C (2,912 °F) with a continuous use limit of 1500 °C (2,732 °F) on its data sheet, 49 °C (88 °F) short of the Type V ceiling.
Which Standards Specify and Test Ceramic Fiber Blanket?#
Ceramic fiber blanket is specified by ASTM C892-19(2024) in the US and classified by EN 1094-1:2008 in Europe, and the two do not convert: C892 sets a maximum use temperature per Type, EN 1094-1 a shrinkage-based classification temperature. Blanket thickness is measured under 350 or 725 Pa (0.051 or 0.105 psi) in EN 1094-1:2008, and conductivity by the ASTM C201-24 calorimeter.
The standards table below sets the documents side by side.
| Purpose | ASTM or API (edition) | EN (edition) | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| Blanket specification and classification | C892-19(2024): Types I to V, Grades 3 to 12 | EN 1094-1:2008: classification temperature by 24 h shrinkage | not interchangeable |
| Test methods for blanket | n/a | EN 1094-1:2008: thickness, bulk density, resilience, permanent linear change, tensile strength, moisture and organic content | n/a |
| Thermal conductivity | C201-24 (calorimeter) | n/a | cited on blanket data sheets |
| Fiber lining quality control | API Std 976, 2nd edition (October 2024) | n/a | API 936 and API 976 refractory installation quality control |
API Std 976, 2nd edition (October 2024), covers installation quality control, inspection and testing of AES and RCF fiber linings. The full tables of the US standard are under ASTM C892 high-temperature fiber blanket specification.
Where Is Ceramic Fiber Blanket Used?#
Ceramic fiber blanket lines refinery heaters, reformers and header boxes, seals steel-plant furnace doors and soaking pits, backs up glass-furnace crowns, and insulates boiler linings, expansion joints and removable turbine covers. Each of the four industries uses blanket for a different property, as the uses table below shows.
| Industry | Zone | Why blanket | Page |
|---|---|---|---|
| Petrochemical | heater and reformer linings, header boxes | layered linings, low heat storage | refinery and petrochemical refractories |
| Iron and steel | furnace doors and seals, soaking pit seals, BOF door shields | flexible, resilient seals | refractories for iron and steel |
| Steel reheating | skid pipes | resilient wrap | reheating furnace refractories |
| Glass | furnace crown insulation | backup insulation | glass furnace refractories |
| Power | boiler linings, expansion joints, removable turbine covers | reusable, flexible insulation | boiler refractory |
Low heat storage explains the layered heater linings, resilience the steel-plant seals, and reusability the removable power-plant covers.
How Is Ceramic Fiber Blanket Installed?#
Ceramic fiber blanket is installed in layers impaled on studs and held by washers or speed clips, folded into modules, or cut into batten strips and expansion joint packing, and it needs no curing before first heat. Layered "wallpaper" linings stack blanket on studs, and modules fold it into pre-compressed blocks. The routes are compared under refractory installation methods.
Plain blanket belongs where hot-face gas runs no faster than 12.2 m/s (40 ft/s), a Unifrax product guidance value, not a standard requirement.
Castable layers placed in the same lining follow their own dry-out schedules, while the binder-free blanket gives no smoke on first firing.
Four related pages are listed below.
- ceramic fiber modules: blanket folded and compressed into blocks.
- refractory anchors: studs, washers, clips and their alloys.
- refractory lining: working, safety and insulating layers: where the blanket layer sits.
- refractory dry-out and heat-up schedules: castable layers next to a blanket.
Blanket Thickness, Roll Formats and Layering#
Blanket thickness is set by a heat-loss calculation from k at the lining's mean temperature, not by a fixed rule, and the US listings observed in October 2026 sell 25.4 mm (1 in) blanket. They offer 25.4 mm x 610 mm x 7.62 m (1 in x 24 in x 25 ft) rolls and 1,829 x 610 x 25.4 mm (72 x 24 x 1 in) pre-cut pieces at 128 kg/m³ (8 lb/ft³).
Conductivity of the 128 kg/m³ Cerachem blanket nearly triples between 400 and 1000 °C (752 and 1,832 °F) mean, so blanket near the hot face insulates least per millimeter. Thickness against shell temperature is computed in the refractory heat loss and lining thickness calculator.
Why Do Blanket Linings Fail, and How Are They Inspected?#
Blanket linings fail by linear shrinkage that opens joints after the hot face runs above the classification temperature, and by devitrification that embrittles the hot face. Erosion, fluxing and insulation loss add three modes, listed below with their checks.
| Failure | Cause | Check |
|---|---|---|
| Joint gaps | shrinkage above the classification temperature | permanent linear change by EN 1094-1:2008; refractory failure modes |
| Hot-face embrittlement | devitrification to mullite and cristobalite | X-ray diffraction (XRD) of hot-face fiber |
| Erosion | gas above 12.2 m/s (40 ft/s) on plain blanket (Unifrax guidance, not a standard) | rigidized face; gas velocity review |
| Fluxing | hydrofluoric acid, phosphoric acid, strong alkalis | chemistry review of the furnace atmosphere |
| Insulation loss | any of the above | k by ASTM C201-24, shell temperature; refractory inspection and quality control |
Unifrax product literature describes the fiber as unaffected by most chemicals except hydrofluoric acid, phosphoric acid and strong alkalis. Devitrification follows temperature: mullite forms from about 985 °C (1,805 °F) and cristobalite from about 1200 °C (2,192 °F), producer values from the Unifrax MSDS M0001 (2009).
Ceramic Fiber Blanket Health and Safety Rules#
Refractory ceramic fiber blanket is classified Carc. 1B H350i (may cause cancer by inhalation) under CLP Annex VI index 650-017-00-8 with notes A and R, in application since 2010-12-01 (ATP01, Regulation (EC) No 790/2009). Aluminosilicate RCF entered the ECHA Candidate List on 2010-01-13 and zirconia aluminosilicate RCF on 2011-12-19. RCF is not on Annex XIV (Commission Regulation (EU) 2017/999, recital 23), and REACH Annex XVII entry 28 bars supply to the general public.
The EU binding limit is 0.3 f/ml as an 8-hour TWA (Directive (EU) 2017/2398, transposition by 2020-01-17). In the US, NIOSH recommends 0.5 f/cm³ (criteria document 2006-123), ACGIH sets a TLV of 0.2 f/cc (1999, A2), Cal/OSHA a PEL of 0.2 f/cc, and federal OSHA has no RCF-specific PEL (OSHA chemical data 951, read 2026-10-27). IARC places RCF in Group 2B (Vol. 43, 1988; Vol. 81, 2002).
The health table below lists each rule with its instrument and date.
| Topic | Rule or value | Instrument and date |
|---|---|---|
| CLP | Harmonised CLP Annex VI: Carc. 1B H350i (index 650-017-00-8), GHS08, Danger; notes A and R | ATP01, Regulation (EC) No 790/2009, in application since 2010-12-01 |
| SVHC | aluminosilicate RCF since 2010-01-13; zirconia aluminosilicate RCF since 2011-12-19 | ECHA Candidate List, read 2026-10-27 |
| Authorization | not on Annex XIV | Commission Regulation (EU) 2017/999, recital 23; ECHA authorisation list read 2026-10-27 |
| Supply | no supply to the general public at or above the classification limit | REACH Annex XVII entry 28, Appendix 2 (Carc. 1B) |
| EU exposure limit | 0.3 f/ml, 8 h TWA | Directive (EU) 2017/2398, transposition by 2020-01-17 |
| US exposure limits | NIOSH REL 0.5 f/cm³ TWA up to 10 h; ACGIH TLV 0.2 f/cc (1999), A2; Cal/OSHA PEL 0.2 f/cc; no federal OSHA PEL for RCF | OSHA chemical data 951 and NIOSH 2006-123, read 2026-10-27 |
| IARC | Group 2B | Monographs Vol. 43 (1988), Vol. 81 (2002) |
| Waste | 0.1 % RCF or more makes waste hazardous by HP 7 | Commission Regulation (EU) No 1357/2014 |
| AES blanket | Carc. 2 H351, not classified when Note Q is met | Annex VI index 650-016-00-2, ATP01, in application since 2010-12-01; see ceramic fiber (RCF) health rules |
Three related pages are listed below.
- ceramic fiber (RCF) health rules: safe use, downsides and tear-out.
- crystalline silica and cristobalite in refractories: devitrified blanket after service.
- spent refractory recycling and disposal: HP 7 waste from removed blanket.
Ceramic Fiber Blanket Grades, Packaging and Sourcing#
Ceramic fiber blanket is bought by classification temperature, density and thickness, and a data sheet (Kaowool, Durablanket, Isowool or any other) becomes comparable only when it states the classification rule, the chemistry and the k method with mean temperature. Eight checks make data sheets comparable.
- Confirm the rule: EN 1094-1:2008 classification or C892 Type.
- Read Al2O3, SiO2, ZrO2 and Cr2O3 in mass %.
- Check density against the C892 Grade window.
- Read k with its method and mean temperature.
- Check 24-hour shrinkage at the hot-face temperature.
- Read tensile strength with its unit, kPa or lb/in.
- Ask for the SDS with the 650-017-00-8 line.
- Compare producers by country, for example under refractories in India.
Quantity, format, packaging and delivery country complete the request, because each is a quote factor. Buying routes are described under refractory manufacturers and suppliers.
What Does Ceramic Fiber Blanket Cost?#
Industrial ceramic fiber blanket is priced per quote, and six factors set that price: grade and classification temperature, density, thickness and format, quantity and packaging, freight, and supply only or installed. The table below lists what a buyer states.
| Price factor | What the buyer states |
|---|---|
| Grade and classification temperature | standard, high-purity, zirconia or chromia; EN 1094-1:2008 classification or C892 Type |
| Density | kg/m³ (lb/ft³) or C892 Grade |
| Thickness and format | mm (in); roll or pre-cut |
| Quantity and packaging | rolls, m² or cartons |
| Freight | delivery country and Incoterms |
| Supply only or installed | material only, or material with installation |
Listings of single rolls are not industrial prices; a quote on the six factors is the comparable figure.
Ceramic Fiber Blanket Compared With AES, Polycrystalline and Rigidized Blanket#
Ceramic fiber blanket competes with AES blanket up to about 1200 to 1300 °C (2,192 to 2,372 °F), with polycrystalline wool above about 1400 °C (2,552 °F), and with rigidized blanket where gas outruns the plain-blanket velocity limit. AES blanket is Carc. 2 H351 under CLP index 650-016-00-2 and not classified when Note Q is met, whereas RCF stays Carc. 1B. The full verdict is under AES wool vs refractory ceramic fiber.
The named AES products reach the 1260 °C class of standard RCF but not the zirconia grades, and insulating firebrick carries load where blanket cannot.
The table below lists each alternative.
| Alternative | Rule | Temperature or rating (named product) | Page |
|---|---|---|---|
| AES blanket | CLP index 650-016-00-2, Carc. 2 H351, not classified when Note Q is met | classification: Superwool Plus 1200 °C (2,192 °F), Superwool HT 1300 °C (2,372 °F) (Morgan) | AES and low bio-persistence wool |
| Polycrystalline wool blanket | EN 1094-1:2008 definition, about 72 to 97 % Al2O3 | CCEWOOL PCW blanket: classification 1600 °C (2,912 °F), continuous use 1500 °C (2,732 °F) | polycrystalline wool |
| Rigidized blanket | colloidal silica bonded | Moist Pak-D (Unifrax): hot gas erosion resistance over 30.5 m/s (100 ft/s), British Gas GC173 procedure | ceramic fiber rigidizers, coatings and mastics |
| Ceramic fiber board | rigid form of the same wool | see class page | ceramic fiber board and vacuum-formed shapes |
| Insulating firebrick | load-bearing insulation | see class page | insulating firebrick; ceramic fiber vs insulating firebrick |
Ceramic Fiber Blanket FAQs#
Is Ceramic Fiber Blanket Good Insulation?#
Ceramic fiber blanket insulates well at high temperature because it stores little heat and conducts 0.06 to 0.34 W/(m·K) between 200 and 1200 °C (392 and 2,192 °F) mean (Cerachem, 128 kg/m³). It shrinks above its classification temperature, so that temperature caps its use.
Is Ceramic Fiber Blanket Fireproof?#
Ceramic fiber blanket does not burn: it is fully inorganic with no binder, and the Durablanket S fiber melts at 1760 °C (3,200 °F). It still shrinks and devitrifies with heat, so its working limit is the classification temperature, not the melting point.