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Latest News 5 Popular Types of Welding Blankets
5 Popular Types of Welding Blankets

5 Popular Types Of
Welding Blankets

Welding blankets are heat-resistant materials that can work as a shield to protect other materials against sparks and splatter. When doing welding work, it is important to protect yourself and your surrounding area.

A molten splatter or a spark can damage furniture around the welding area and can cause major bodily harm. A good welding blanket can prevent major damages and keep workers safe. One of the more popular types of welding blanket materials is fiberglass. This material is achieved by filtering melted glass through bushings, which are bundles of small tubes.

When the glass cools down, the new material is flexible enough to be used as fiber. Fiberglass is more resistant to high temperatures on its own rather than when it is mixed with other materials or composed of minerals. This process allows it to gain features that make it much more resistant to heat. Welding blankets can be made with a variety of materials including vermiculite, silicate, polyurethane, aluminum paper, graphite, and clay.

Welding blankets serve as an excellent shield against fire and heat. Because of this, they can be used for many other applications. They can come in handy when grinding, cutting, and other activities that create heat. For instance, a fire blanket is essentially a light welding blanket that helps to prevent fires. Welding blankets can also be used to insulate grills during cold weather.

Grills are able to keep and stabilize heat longer and burn less fuel or pellets. Because there are different welding techniques, blankets should be chosen according to the type of welding to be performed. The most commonly used welding blanket material is flame retardant fiberglass fabric due to its isolating, high-temperature resistance, and displacement features.

What to Consider When Choosing Welding Blanket Materials

Working temperature, type of metal fusion, which metal you are using (stain, iron, copper or aluminum, metal alloys, etc.), the splash type, and how far the projection reaches are the main elements to consider when choosing the correct welding blanket. It would be best if you looked for a welding blanket that has excellent flame retardant properties. Here are a few more factors you should take into consideration:

Flame-retardant properties

You should check the materials used and make sure it is really resistant to damages. Many companies will promise heat protection and flame-retardant benefits. However, not all of them actually fulfill their promises. There are welding blankets that are not heat resistant and might develop char marks or even have holes from burns. Fiberglass, for example, is a good material. Fiberglass has isolating benefits, and it keeps a higher temperature at bay. However, carbon fibers are equally as effective.

Check out its composition

It is important to ensure the material does not contain harmful chemical components such as asbestos. In addition, you should determine if the material contains other compositions such as polyurethane, vermiculite, silicate, clay, or graphite.

Temperature resistance

You should determine what the highest temperature your material can resist is. The temperature you are working with will determine how heavy the welding blanket material can be and whether it can be used for higher temperatures projects.

Size

The size of your welding blanket is also an important factor to consider. The blanket should be big enough to cover your work area. But, again, it is down to personal preference. However, if you need a bigger blanket, look for blankets in bigger sizes, such as 3×3 feet.

Comfort

Materials like fiberglass tend to feel harsher because it easily hardens up. Although it can be soft enough to be used as a fabric, it can still feel quite coarse. You can always go with a softer material if you have sensitive skin. Stiff materials can also be difficult to roll.

 

Common Welding Blanket Materials

  1. Black Slag

Black slag is a good fabric material for tougher welding jobs. It can resist molten splatters with temperatures of up to 3000 degrees Fahrenheit. Black slag can also resist abrasions easily.

  1. Vermiculite

Vermiculite can withstand temperatures of 1500 degrees Fahrenheit to up to 2000 degrees Fahrenheit continuously for short periods of time. This material is best for vertical applications because they provide the most protection from heat, sparks, and up to medium levels of sandblasting and grinding.

  1. Aluminum Fiberglass

Aluminum fiberglass is reflective and has the ability to withstand abrasions and temperatures of up to 1000 degrees Fahrenheit. Aluminum fiberglass blankets have aluminum foil sides and are used for welding jobs where there is a need to reflect heat.

  1. Silica

Silica is better for protecting your workspace from slags and even molten splatters. In addition, since its molten point is as high as 2300 degrees Fahrenheit, this material can be relied on for more heavy-duty jobs.

  1. Acrylic

This material is not as heavy-duty as others but for light welding materials. Therefore, it can be a good choice. In addition, this material is fire retardant and can be used as a barrier when welding.

For more than 60 years, Reef Industries has been manufacturing and fabricating reinforced film laminates and composites. Our expertise in producing quality, custom-configured final products ensures our customers’ needs are always met in a timely and professional manner. We offer a wide range of products, material grades, additives, and fabrication capabilities to meet or exceed your requirements. Impulse, wedge, or hot air welding is utilized to optimize the fabrication technique that is best suited to produce your uniquely configured and fabricated product.