For the final installment of our
Choosing the Right Material for Your Insulation Blankets series, we are going to look at fastening systems. As we have seen, arriving at the right combination of materials for your insulation blankets takes a lot of time and expertise. The same holds true for the fastening system used to hold your insulation covers in place. Just like with outer covers, inner liners, and the insulation itself, fastening systems come in a variety of materials to fit your specific needs.
- Stainless Steel Lacing Wire with Rivets
This rugged system stands up to high heat (1200°F/649°C) and is the most economical option available.
- Silicone Straps with Buckles/Rings
Does not offer as high a temperature limit (500°F/260°C), but does allow for quicker installation and removal.
- Kevlar Straps with Buckles/Rings
Kevlar has a higher temperature limit (700°F/371°C) and is more rugged than silicone. This in turn makes it a more pricey option.
- Stainless Steel Mesh Straps with Buckles/Rings
This top of the line system is rugged and has both a high temperature limit (1200°F/649°C) and price.
These springs offer easy assembly and removal with a high temperature limit (1200°F/649°C). They are perfect for quick blanket assembly and disassembly.
Much like springs, except we do not recommended them for curved surfaces and low volume applications.
As one might expect, Velcro goes on and off quite easily. Its big drawback is a very low temperature limit of 200°F/93°C.
Much like standard Velcro except with a slightly higher heat threshold of 280°F/138°C.
- Stainless Steel Velcro hooks with Nomex Velcro Fasteners
A somewhat expensive, high temperature Velcro (450°F/232°C) that is less sensitive to dirty environments then other Velcro products.
There you have it—From the basics to material choices to the fastening systems, we have outlined all of the steps in choosing the right insulation blanket for your application.
