Aluminum foil for insulation and vapor barrier in the construction industry
One of the most important fields of application of aluminum foil is insulation. It is used for example as a heat-insulating layer for the insulation of pipes and ducts.
Aluminum foil laminated with scrim with highly effective heat insulation of pipes.
In the construction industry, 8021 aluminium foil is also used as a top layer for insulating materials such as stone wool, foam insulation panels and lamellar mats in the insulation of buildings. As a vapor barrier, the film ensures that no water vapor penetrates the insulation material and thus prevents mold formation and moisture damage.
In addition to the vapor barrier property, aluminum foils reflect approximately 96% of radiant heat and are therefore very well suitable for thermal insulation. They can also be easily deformed or coated with a protective varnish which increases their scope of application.
Aluminum foils for insulation are available in both dense and perforated versions. The dense insulation is used particularly where a vapor barrier is required, e.g. on basement walls or saunas.
Perforated aluminum foil has tiny holes which allow the circulation of the air, thus preventing condensation when there are large temperature differences. This is advantageous especially in the insulation of roofing. Aluminum foils with larger holes are referred to as punched or perforated aluminum foil.
Aluminium alloys offer excellent heat conductivity combined with much less weight, which is very important in every automotive situation. Considerable development work on alloys, brazing and other joining methods as well as the introduction of ‘clad’ materials combining strength with ease of joining have brought success for aluminium
In electrical cables, aluminium foil helps to give long-term insulation against moisture and attack from naturally occurring corrosive elements found above and below the ground.
Aluminium foil also acts as an insulator against the magnetic and radio frequency emissions associated with electrical cables. As a sheath for fibre-optic cables, aluminium foil uses its electrical conductivity to act as a ‘tracer’ to enable testing of the integrity of cable links - as well as helping to provide the long term protection every cable needs.
In ‘fire walls’ for vehicles and fire-proof doors and building panels, aluminium foil stops access to the oxygen required to support flames.
Aluminium foil is also increasingly important in automotive components such as impact energy absorption structures and in catalytic converters. Favoured over steel because of better corrosion resistance and weight economy, special aluminium alloys provide the physical properties required in these aluminium foil applications.