Abstract
Refractory Ceramic Fiber (RCF) was invented in the early 1940's. The importance of that invention is really quite misunderstood and undervalued. With RCF Fiber attributes such as; lightweight and easy to cut and fit, virtually immunity to thermal shock, low heat capacity and low thermal conductivity, the invention of this fiber transformed industrial market refractory linings. It's impossible to calculate or predict the immense amount of energy saved and production costs lowered by the use of RCF. RCF has long been viewed as a leading choice in high temperature insulation in many industrial applications from ceramics to power generation, chemical and petrochemical processing and aerospace to domestic appliances. RCF manufacturers formed the HTIW Coalition and ECFIA to represent the High Temperature Insulation Wool Industry and to work alongside government bodies to recommend appropriate guidelines for using RCF. The University of Cincinnati in the US and the Institute of Occupational Medicine in the EU have and continue to study and monitor RCF in the workplace However, regulations placed upon working with RCF in Europe have encouraged ceramic fiber manufactures to develop viable alternatives to RCF. These high temperature low bio-persistent alkaline earth silicate (AES) fibers were developed in the late 1980s as an alternative to RCF fibers. Driven by the European regulations, AES fibers have been used to replace RCF in many different and wide ranging industrial and commercial applications.
