It may take months to build a house and years to make it a home, but it only takes minutes for it to be destroyed by fire. Fire-resistant design is a vital method of using materials that create a protective layer and heat barrier to residential and commercial structures. Discover how minerals like vermiculite are the key ingredient in fire-resistant construction of buildings and textiles.

What is Vermiculite

Vermiculite is a natural occurring mineral that expands when heated. This gives it a porous structure that retains moisture, transferring the heat to steam and cooling the area. Its ability to slow heat transfer makes it an excellent insulator.

In addition to its moisture-retaining, heat-resisting properties, vermiculite is also naturally non-flammable. Not combusting under high temperatures makes it an effective fire-proof material.

Several other reasons why vermiculite is a popular fire-resistant option include:

• Odorless
• Cost-effective
• Easy application
• Versatile

Now that you know what it is and what it does, discover how it’s used to help protect structures from fire.

Using Vermiculite in Fire-Resistant Construction

Before vermiculite is used, it goes through an exfoliation process that sterilizes the mineral:

1. Vermiculite particles are heated rapidly
2. The mineral’s crystalline water interlayer vaporizes.
3. The pressure of this process causes the other layers to separate and expand.

Exfoliated vermiculite is then combined with fillers and bonded with cement in premix formulas for use. Vermiculite is also used to make insulating products for a variety of construction materials. Since it expands in high temperatures, it works to control the spread of fire and prevent structural damage.

Here are some of the possible applications:

• Vermiculite spray increases fire resistance to commercial and industrial steel beams and columns.
• Mix vermiculite with concrete to enhance fire-resistance and durability in roofs, walls, and floors.
• Line chimneys, fireplaces, and ductwork with low-density vermiculite boards to prevent the spread of fire and smoke. Boards also act as the core of fire doors.
• Fill cable ducts with vermiculite to protect electrical wiring.
• Use expanded vermiculite as insulation during foundry and glasswork production and as a thermal insulation material between joists in lofts and attics.

Vermiculite can also be combined with other aggregates such as perlite to produce low density plaster that’s resistant to cracking and shrinking. Even though vermiculite comes in ready-made products, proper use and installation is still vital for optimal fire resistance. Manufacturer instructions should include application coverage and thickness guidelines.

Vermiculite Textile Coatings

Building materials are not the only medium that needs extreme heat protection. Fire- and heat-proof fabrics are vital to a number of industries—including construction, automotive, and the military. Both protective apparel and packaging material require a level of heat-resistance that complies with safety guidelines.

Dicalite offers a range of patented products that provide a safe, environmentally friendly method for improving the heat- and fire-proof properties of textiles. MicroLite is a water-based, fire-resistant coating made from a chemical exfoliation of vermiculite; therefore, it offers the following benefits:

• Limits gas exchange in plastic packaging
• Makes gaskets and packing materials easier to seal
• Offers a high temperature coating, binder, or filler

MicroLite is available in both dry powder and aqueous colloidal dispersion forms, so it’s customizable and can be tailored to your needs.

Dicalite is North America’s only producer of vermiculite dispersions. We cater to a range of industries—including construction, automotive, and industrial—looking for effective ways of improving their packaging, coatings, and fire-safety ratings. Contact us today to learn how we can help your heat-proofing processes with MicroLite and our other vermiculite products.