Crystallization Behavior and Damage Mechanism of Mineral Wool Fibers When Heated

Abstract

This paper studied the crystallization behavior of mineral wool fibers when heated with the test method of combining differential thermal analyzer, X-ray diffractometer with scanning electron microscope; worked out the content of different crystallization phases with the reference intensity ratio method, and revealed the damage mechanism of the fibers when heated. The results showed that: the glass-transition temperature and the initial crystallization temperature of the mineral wool fiber measured by DSC was 712.5 and 854 °C respectively; while initial crystallization temperature measured by tube furnace was 700 °C which might be attributed to the fact that the heating rate of tube furnace was smaller than that of DSC. With the holding time of 4 h under 700 °C, diopside crystallized at first. As the holding temperature rose, the main crystallization phases were melilite and anorthite, also containing a small amount of diopside; additionally the amount of crystallization was the main reason for fiber damage.