a short description about the mineral wool and its properties

1. THE MINERAL WOOL
Nowadays; a new material has been added to the list of the best and common
acoustic panels materials which is MINERAL WOOL.
Mineral wool is one of the common types of porous panels, with high porosity;
they provide absorptionproperties dependent upon frequency, composition,
thickness, surface finish, and method of mounting. It is a non-metallic, inorganic
productmanufactured from a carefully controlled mix of raw materials, mainly
comprising either stone or silica which are heated to a high temperature until
molten. The molten glass or stone is then spun and formed into a flexible, fibrous
mat for further processinginto finished products.
Mineral wool can be used in the form of pressed, stiff boards is often used in
acoustic ceilings. These boards are inserted into rail systems with different profiles
and are available in a variety of colors and finishes. Besides that, it is highly fire
resistant where the thermal performance of mineral wool is mainly due to
prevention of convection by the entrapment of air in the material’s open-cell,
woolly matrix. Conductionis reduced because there is very little solid material to
provide pathways and the trapped, static air has a low thermal conductivity. Heat
transfer is also reduced because the material acts as a physical barrier to radiative
processes,as well as water-repellent. What’s more, this particular productclaims
to have a very high NRC rating so, it also serves as an acoustical insulator.
Porous materials such as mineral wool work to controland reduce noise by
allowing air movement into the fabric of the material. The fluctuations of air
molecules - which form sound waves - move into the bodyof the mineral wool,
where friction between the air particles and the material’s narrow airways cause
sound energy to be dissipated as heat.