Hydrophobic expanded perlite
What is hydrophobic (water-repellent) expanded perlite?
Hydrophobic expanded perlite is a modern insulation material produced from natural volcanic rock through a high-temperature expansion process. An additional hydrophobic treatment gives it water-repellent properties, significantly enhancing its functionality compared with standard expanded perlite.
Thanks to its structure, hydrophobic perlite is lightweight, porous and exceptionally durable, while retaining very good thermal and acoustic insulation properties.
Properties and characteristics
Key technical specifications of hydrophobic expanded perlite:
- Bulk density: approx. 90–120 kg/m³
- Thermal conductivity (λ): 0.045–0.065 W/(m·K)
- Service temperature range: approx. −200°C to +900°C
- Particle size range: 0–2.5 mm (depending on the product)
Main properties:
- 💧 Hydrophobicity – does not absorb water and repels moisture
- 🔥 Non-combustible – highly resistant to fire
- 🌡️ Provides thermal and acoustic insulation
- 🧪 Chemically inert – does not react with most substances
- 🦠 Resistant to mould, fungi and bacteria
- 🌬️ Water vapour permeable
- ⚖️ Very lightweight material
- ♻️ Environmentally friendly and non-toxic
The hydrophobic treatment enables the material to retain its insulation properties even in damp environments, giving it a key advantage over untreated perlite.
Sorption properties:
Hydrophobic perlite acts as a high-performance sorbent:
- Takes up petroleum products, chemicals and organic substances.
- Does not absorb water – provides selective sorption.
- Removes contaminants from the water surface, with removal efficiencies of up to approximately 99%.
- Easy to collect after use.
👉 This makes it an ideal solution for:
- Industry.
- Emergency response services.
- Environmental protection.
Standard vs hydrophobic perlite
| Property | Standard perlite | Hydrophobic expanded perlite |
|---|---|---|
| Water absorption | high | very low (water-repellent) |
| Applications | mainly dry conditions | damp environments and industrial applications |
| Sorption performance | limited | selective (e.g. oils) |
| Durability in damp conditions | reduced | maintained |
Key properties of hydrophobic expanded perlite
- very low bulk density (a lightweight insulation material)
- excellent thermal insulation performance (low thermal conductivity, λ)
- moisture resistance – hydrophobic properties
- non-combustibility and resistance to high temperatures
- water vapour permeability
- resistance to mould, fungi and bacteria
- chemical inertness
- environmentally friendly and safe for human health
Hydrophobic perlite retains its properties even under demanding environmental conditions, making it suitable for a wide range of applications.
Applications of hydrophobic perlite
Construction
Hydrophobic expanded perlite is widely used as an insulation material:
- as insulating fill in floor, wall and roof assemblies
- for loft and flat roof insulation
- as loose-fill insulation in building voids
- in lightweight perlite mortars and concretes
- as a subfloor fill layer
Its moisture resistance makes it particularly suitable for areas prone to dampness.
Industry
- insulation of high-temperature systems and equipment
- applications in the energy and metallurgical industries
- insulating fill in technical installations
Environmental protection
Hydrophobic perlite serves as an effective sorbent:
- removes oils and petroleum products
- takes up chemical contaminants
- acts selectively without absorbing water
- used for spill clean-up
How to use hydrophobic expanded perlite?
As an insulation material:
Perlite is used as loose-fill insulation. It can be:
- installed manually
- blown into place using pneumatic equipment
- spread evenly throughout the spaces to be insulated
As a sorbent:
- spread over the contaminated surface
- allow time for the spilled substance to be taken up
- collect the used sorbent and dispose of it in accordance with applicable regulations
Why choose hydrophobic perlite?
Hydrophobic expanded perlite is a solution for demanding applications where moisture resistance and long-term insulation performance are essential. Compared with conventional insulation materials, it offers:
- consistent performance under all conditions
- ease of transport and application
- a wide range of applications
- high performance with low weight
Hydrophobic expanded perlite – effective insulation for years to come
If you are looking for a material that combines low weight, insulation performance and water resistance, hydrophobic perlite is an ideal solution. It is suitable for construction, industrial and environmental protection applications, providing reliability and durability over many years of service.