Lava?

[asudavew]

Could lava rock be used for insulation?

I was just trying to think of other materials.

Lava rock is light weight and used to make rock wool.

I would sure like to know everyone's opinion!

[nissanneill]

Hi Dave,
one very easy way to check this theory out is get a sample and put in your hand with a blow torch aimed into it. You obviously need to be carefull not to burn yourself but it is a wat shown in an add for household insulation here some years ago.
You could set up a simple laboritory test type experiment with thermometers, a heat source and measure the temp rise throughout a sample, say 4 to 6 inch layer. You might also do this with a Vermiculite sample beside it to compare the results.
I would think that the mass of lava rock compared to the air trapped within it would transfer the heat, but I have never tried it.

Neill

[RTflorida]

I'm no expert, but the perlite that I used clearly stated on the bags that they were an organic, volcanic (lava?) product.
Thats about all I can add........

[asudavew]

Hey everyone!

I bought a 3 dollar bag of lava rock.

It was 1 cubic foot.

I grabbed a 3 inch piece......

held one end..... blow torched the other....
It glowed red on the blow torch side...... It didn't get hot on the other side that I held with my hand.

I'm gonna build a small form tomorrow.... mix some lava rocks and some cement.....

Let it set and I will test again!\

But lava rock is looking really promising and cheap!


Thanks for the responses.

Dave

[JoeT62]

WOW. Very interesting. Are you talking about the same stuff they put in the bottom of gas grills?

[asudavew]

It was red lava rock from Lowe's....... It came in a bag.. 3 bucks and change.

I'm telling ya.... This is gonna work...

Let me make some samples and I will post results.

It looks very promising.

Dave

[Bacterium]

Neill...........that red lava sounds like scoria.....as you know people used it enmass in the 80's as ground cover in their gardens.

[Hendo]

Originally Posted by Bacterium

people used it enmass in the 80's as ground cover in their gardens.

.... and in their barbecues? I recall practically every BBQ sold once had a 'hot rock' volcanic layer to (I assume) assist with achieving a smokey flavour in food cooked over an open grill. They don't seem to be in favour any more, or has the scoria/volcanic rock all gone?

[asudavew]

Yeah that's the stuff.

And no they don't design grills to use it anymore.

I sure think one functions better with it though.

[asudavew]

Scoria - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia