Refractory Ceramic Fiber (RCF)
- Also known as Alumino-Silicate Glass Wool (ASW)
- Invented in 1942
- Commercialized in the 1950s
- Mainly used for products in industrial high-temperature applications
- High chemical resistance
- Typically used from 1100°F (600°C) to 2600°F (1430°C)
RCFs are defined as:
Amorphous man-made fibers produced from the melting and blowing or spinning of calcined kaolin clay or a combination of alumina (Al203) and silica (SiO2). Approximate percentages (by weight) of components are: alumina, 20-80%; silica, 20-80%; and other oxides such as zirconia in lesser amounts.
RCF products are generally used in industrial equipment like furnaces and kilns under critical application conditions, in fire protection and in automotive exhaust systems.