DESCRIPTION OF PROPERTIES

Mineral wool refers at two different materials:

1. Slag wool: made from iron ore furnace slag, an industrial waste product. It is the most know and used.

2. Rock wool: produced from natural rocks, such as basalt and diabase.

Raw materials are melted, fibred and hardened with a synthetic resin.

It can be recycled by compressing waste into briquettes, which can then be reintroduced into the production process.

More energy is required for the production of mineral wool than for cellulose or cork. Moreover the degradability of the material is bad.

 PROS

The biggest feature of this material its is recycled content.It is made from 75% of recovered material.

The recycling process reduce the use of raw materials and prevent of waste.

 During manufacture process water is completly recirculated.

 CONS

The melting process and the use of bonding agents still have negative effects on the environment.

Mineral wool production is more energy intense than cellulose and its degradability is poor.

During manufacture process there is air pollution due a energy use.

Fibers and chemicals can be irritants, should be isolated from interior space.

Wool fiber can cause skin and mucous membranes irritation, so the workers have to be protected.