Method of making panels of microporous thermal insulation

A method for manufacturing a panel of microporous thermal insulation material, which method comprises the steps of:

• heating a glass fibre cloth so as to drive off organic material associated with the cloth;
• applying to the heat-treated cloth a silane in an acidic solution;
• drying the silane treated cloth at a temperature which produces crosslinking of the silane so as to cause the cloth to stiffen;
• applying to the dried silane-treated cloth a substance selected from the group consisting of an aqueous solution of sodium silicate, an aqueous solution of potassium silicate, and a cellulose solution;
• drying the cloth;
• forming the cloth into a bag;
• introducing a microporous thermal insulation material into the bag;
• sealing the bag and
• applying pressure to the exterior of the bag to consolidate the insulating material in block form and to create a tension strain in the glass fiber cloth, the glass fiber cloth being bonded to the block of microporous thermal insulation material.