Yellowish Brown Rockwool Insulation Sheets In Cultural Relic Protection​

In the protection of wooden structures of ancient buildings, rock wool panels are mainly used for fire prevention and maintaining stable temperature and humidity. Wooden components of ancient buildings, such as beams, columns, and bucket arches, are vulnerable to fire hazards and sensitive to changes in environmental temperature and humidity (drastic fluctuations in temperature and humidity can cause wood to shrink and crack). In such cases, thin rock wool panels (with a thickness of 5-10mm and a density of ≤80kg/m³) are selected, cut into shapes that fit the curvature and size of the wooden components, and their surfaces are coated with fire-retardant coatings or traditional paints (such as tung oil and lacquer) that match the appearance of the ancient buildings. This not only prevents the direct exposure of rock wool panels from affecting the style of the ancient buildings but also blocks the spread of flames through their Class A non-combustibility, protecting the wooden components from damage caused by accidental fire sources (such as open flames from sacrificial rituals and electrical faults). At the same time, the low thermal conductivity of rock wool panels can slow down the impact of external temperature and humidity on the wooden components, reducing wood deformation caused by alternating dry and wet conditions and helping to extend the service life of the wooden structures.​

 Moisture-proof and thermal insulation performance

For the environmental regulation of stone cultural relics such as grotto temples and murals, rock wool panels can be used as concealed thermal insulation and moisture-proof materials. Grotto temples are mostly located in mountain bodies, and their internal environment is easily affected by external rainwater infiltration and temperature changes, leading to problems such as mural flaking, pigment peeling, and rock weathering. During construction, rock wool panels are processed into blocks that fit the inner rock walls of the grottoes and laid between the rock walls and the protective layer (such as a breathable stone protection film) to form a concealed thermal insulation and moisture-proof layer. Their porous structure can absorb a small amount of infiltrated moisture, preventing water from directly contacting the murals or rocks; their low thermal conductivity can maintain a stable temperature inside the grottoes, reducing condensed water caused by temperature differences and lowering the risk of weathering of stone cultural relics and damage to murals. Additionally, rock wool panels have strong chemical inertness and will not release harmful substances to pollute the surface of cultural relics.​

Buffering and Protection

In the exhibition, display, and temporary protection of cultural relics, rock wool panels can serve as customized cushioning and protective materials. For cultural relics that need to be temporarily transported and exhibited (such as bronze artifacts and ceramics), customized rock wool cushioning modules can be made according to the shape of the cultural relics, wrapped around the exterior of the relics or filled in the gaps of display stands. Their soft texture can prevent the cultural relics from being damaged by collisions during transportation and exhibition, and their chemical stability ensures no reaction with the surface of the cultural relics. For temporary fire isolation during the restoration of ancient buildings (such as the separation between restored and unrestored areas), lightweight rock wool panels can be used to build temporary partition walls. These partitions not only play a fire-prevention role but also are easy to dismantle without causing damage to the main body of the ancient buildings, complying with the "reversibility" requirement in cultural relic protection.​

In summary, the core of rock wool panels' applications in the field of cultural relic protection lies in the precise matching of their properties with the needs of cultural relic protection. Without damaging the main body and style of cultural relics, they provide functions such as fire prevention, temperature and humidity regulation, and cushioning protection, making them an important auxiliary material for balancing "safety" and "protection" in cultural relic protection.