Process energy / dust
Mills, fibres, isocyanates, metal fume or silica — name the actual agent.
Darker cells mean a higher score for this topic on that metric.
Strength10
Heat resistance22
Fire performance24
Insulation52
Workability58
Circularity48
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Quick answers
Is Phase-change material non-combustible?
Declared reaction class in this atlas: paraffin = combustible; salts vary. Assemblies still need resistance tests.
Does Phase-change material insulate?
Thermal mark 52/100 versus the atlas. Conductivity note: low-to-moderate; often needs fins or graphite.
What is the density band?
~0.8–1.6 g/cm³
How is it made?
Origin story: NASA / Telkes 1940s–70s; building PCM 2000s (United States / Germany).
Can it be recycled?
Circularity mark 48/100 — editorial, route-specific.
Typical melting or failure heat?
designed 18–28 °C for buildings
heat 22 · fire 24
Safety here is encyclopedia, not a workplace assessment. Name the agent: dust, isocyanate, fibre, fume, moisture, fire.
Fire class paraffin = combustible; salts vary is reaction language unless an assembly test is cited.
Hazards
In service
Corrosion, moisture, UV or creep silently retire sections.
Fire products
Smoke, drip, fibres or toxicants depend on chemistry.
Cut / puncture
Handling injuries are more common than brochure failures.
Mis-specification
The wrong grade is the most expensive hazard.
Fire class
Reaction
paraffin = combustible; salts vary
Resistance
Assemblies (EI, R, Type X) are not implied by the material letter.
Test families
EN 13501, ASTM E84, ISO 5660, KS F 2271 — they do not equal each other.
People vs structure
Clothing FR and steel R-ratings are different professions.
Environment
Carbon / energy
Primary production is energy-heavy; ask for a route, not a slogan.
Toxics / fibres
Additives, dusts and processing aids (not always the polymer backbone) drive regulation.
Water
Process water, leachate or moisture swelling.
End of life
Sortability beats theoretical recyclability.
Handling
Store dry and labelled
Grade mix-ups scrap lots.
PPE for the actual agent
Fibres, isocyanates, UV, sharp edges — not a generic “chemicals” pictogram.
Do not improvise fire class
Coatings and cavities change the letter.
Follow the WPS / DFT / compression
Installation is in the specification.
Codes move. Recheck KS, JIS, EN, NFPA and IBC editions for the job’s jurisdiction.
Keep exploring
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Mineral wool
Melted rock or glass spun into A1 batts — the default non-combustible insulation of codes.
Overall 69 🧽Polyurethane foam
The low-λ organic foam of fridges and buildings — excellent insulation, a fire design problem unless PIR and coverings are honest.
Overall 46 📦Vacuum insulated panel
A sealed vacuum sandwich — λ around 0.004–0.008 W/m·K until the envelope leaks.
Overall 44