Dupré Minerals Company Profile
Dupre Minerals was established in the 1950s and specialises in the manufacture of superior quality products to satisfy the vermiculite, casting, friction and refractory industries. With over 60 years of experience, the company utilises the most innovative production technology to formulate and manufacture high quality products for specific requirements.
Dupre’s ranges of crude and exfoliated vermiculite product formulations are used for insulation, friction, horticulture, construction, packaging and wherever lightweight or heat resistant properties are required. In 2007, the company opened a new vermiculite exfoliation plant which offers a bulk storage capacity of over 5,000 tonnes of vermiculite, safeguarding market supply and providing more flexibility to a wide and varied client base.
Vermiculite
Vermiculite is a naturally occurring mineral which is a safe inert material which is light in colour. When vermiculite is heated it expands (exfoliates) to around 30 times its original size. This process converts the dense flakes of ore into lightweight porous granules which contain numerous minute air layers. These granules are non-combustible and are insoluble in water and all other solvents. Exfoliated vermiculite is light and clean to handle, offers excellent insulation value, acoustic-insulating properties and will absorb and hold a wide range of liquids. Vermiculite is most commonly used due to its thermal insulation qualities and is an ideal user-friendly option for domestic and industrial applications.
Dupre Micafil Vermiculite
Micafil vermiculite is the market leading product for insulation. Micafil is widely used for numerous building insulation applications such as internal cavity walls, lofts and chimney flue liners. Micafil is a completely fireproof, non-irritant and fibre-free material which is free flowing and simple to install. Ideal uses include:
- Loft Insulation
Vermiculite dramatically reduces heat loss in cold weather and keeps the interior warm in hot weather. Poured straight from the bag, vermiculite flows into and over all potential heat loss areas and does not require any cutting, shaping or moulding and is ideal for protection around pipes and cables as well as filling in awkward corners. One bag of Dupre vermiculite will cover one square metre to a depth of 10cm and offers a thermal conductivity k-value of 0.063W/mK and a thermal resistance R-value of 1.6m2K/W per metre of insulation.
- Cavity Insulation
Micafil vermiculite is ideal for interior cavity walls, between floors and under stair voids. Due to Micafil’s lightweight properties, no pre-strengthening is required and it will make a considerable contribution to room insulation and the reduction of noise transference between rooms which are partitioned by stud and plasterboard walls. Vermiculite is not suitable for external cavity walls.
- Acoustic Sound Insulation
Micafil vermiculite provides superior acoustic insulation and is an ideal alternative to traditional heavy materials. Many modern buildings require a high level of sound absorption, but modern construction and space constraints dictate that it is impractical to use traditional heavy insulation. Builders and architects are widely specifying alternative lightweight acoustical dampening materials such as Micafil vermiculite. At a depth of 50mm Micafil has achieved a classification of aw = 0.55(mH) Class D, at 100mm aw = 0.90(mH) Class A and at 150mm aw = 1.00 (mH) Class A.
- Micalite Vermiculite Boards
Micalite vermiculite boards are fire resistant and offer insulation and thermal stability. Micalite boards are perfect for wood burning stoves and they are easy to cut and are available in numerous densities and thicknesses. The boards can be supplied with a decorative surface including brick effect, herringbone and reeded patterns which makes them ideal insulation panels for inglenooks. Dupre Minerals can also provide pre-cut shapes of Micalite boards to exact customer requirements using the CNC router cutting service. The shapes can be cut to an accuracy of 1mm and revised shapes can be made without the requirement for new moulds or dies to be manufactured.
Dupre Minerals is committed to providing a range of high quality products and solutions for numerous applications. Other products manufactured include friction products, refractory products, precision casting, crude vermiculite and vermiculite dispersion. The company is certified to ISO 9001:2008 and is part of Goodwin PLC, combining over 60 years of industry experience. The knowledgeable and professional team at Dupre Minerals welcomes enquiries and can provide in-depth information and advice across the whole product range. Products are also available through a national network of distributors.