Why is wool protection important?
Moth horror in Switzerland
In January 2021, the SRF (Swiss Radio and Television) organised a tragic redevelopment case known. A family from Basel renovated an old, listed house. For the sake of the environment, the old glass wool was replaced with natural sheep's wool.
Before installing the insulation, the dealer promised that the wool was treated against moths and larvae. Unfortunately, there was nothing in writing. Little by little, the family realised that the whole Wool full of moths and larvae was.
The SRF legal expert advised that it is essential to obtain certificates and a written assurance - we fully agree with this!
Always ask for the Certificates including the certificate number to be on the safe side - in the truest sense of the word! Get at least three proofs:
- The Certificate via the long-term test according to EAD
- The Active ingredient names of the agent used and the associated biocide authorisation
- One Clearance certificate for people and nature, such as the natureplus® certification
By the way, here are our proofs →
We strongly condemn cases such as the one described above and consider the sale of such "insulating materials" to be unacceptable.
The bad news is followed by the good news
But you don't have to do without the many benefits of healthy and natural sheep's wool insulation for fear of moths.
Because with the right wool protection you are 100% from moth horror immune. Our patented, biocide-free Ionic Protect® process provides the wool protection we guarantee you.
Good wool protection is essential, because when Moths in sheep's wool insulation for the first time The small moths and their larvae are very difficult to get rid of.
Why this is the case is quickly explained by answering two questions:
- What exactly is sheep's wool?
Sheep's wool is a natural animal fibre. It consists mainly of Protein proteins. The basic protein building block is Keratinfrom which our hair and nails are also made. - Why is sheep's wool interesting for moths?
The Larvae of the clothes moth or the carpet beetle need the protein contained in the wool fibres. Keratin for waxing. They prefer a quiet, dark environment. A carpet in a light-coloured living room that is constantly walked over is therefore of little interest to the clothes moth. Of course, the situation is completely different with insulation installed in the wall.
The natural Ionic Protect® wool protection
- Trade mark patent
We have developed and tested the Ionic Protect® process over many years and have also protected it under trade mark law. It is a plasma ion treatment of the wool with the aim of protecting it from all negative influences in construction. - Modifying the fibre
During the process, the fibre surface of the wool is modified without the addition of biocides so that the wool is then permanently protected against all negative influences. This is continuously checked and certified. - Biocide-free protection
Among other things, the treatment means that our wool simply no longer tastes good to moths and is therefore protected against feeding and permanently biocide-free. - Permanent protection
This unique treatment method is only carried out by ISOLENA and gives the sheep's wool all the properties it needs to function permanently as an insulating material. The functionality has been tested and confirmed in the laboratory (EAD/CUAP).
In the Ionic Protect® process, we use plasma instead of chemicals to permanently change the fibre surface of the wool. In this way, we also achieve permanent wool protection.
The plasma we are talking about here is not to be confused with medical plasma (= blood plasma), which is a liquid, cell-free portion of blood.
In order to understand what happens during our Ionic Protect® plasma ion treatment, we are going to do a short detour into physics.
What is plasma?
- After solid, liquid and gaseous, plasma is a fourth aggregate state.
- The plasma state can be achieved by Gas through Energy supply is changed (= ionisation).
- Plasma is therefore Gas in a more energetic state. This means that plasma matter contains a high proportion of free ions and electrons has.
Natural phenomena such as lightning, auroras or the solar wind are plasma states. You see, glow is (in most cases) one of the characteristics of plasma. However, the most important property for us is its electrical conductivity.
What is ionisation?
- Ionisation refers to a process in which a molecule or a Atom, one or more Electrons detached become.
- The atom or molecule remains as positively charged ion back.
- After a Ionisation There are therefore many free electrons in the plasma, which Cause of the high-energy state of the plasma is.
The term 'ion' comes from the ancient Greek ἰόν or ión, which means 'that which leaves'. The name therefore says it all: an ion is created when an electron 'leaves' an atom.
What does Ionic Protect® do?
- The Sheep's wool goes through a machine in which an energy-rich Plasma field is generated.
- Electrons and ions interact with the wool and change the molecular structure of the wool fibre.
- After this treatment, the wool fibre is not food more for keratin-eating insects such as moths or carpet beetles.
In order to monitor and guarantee the product safety and quality of each individual batch of wool, all processes except wool collection and wool washing are carried out in-house. The process is long-term tested and we can therefore guarantee that no moth infestation can occur even after many years.
What other wool protection is there?
Wool protection through the addition of other fibres
In order to make sheep's wool less attractive to feeding pests, there are manufacturers who Mix wool with synthetic fibres or PLA fibres. However, this also means that the positive properties are lost and, in our opinion, it is no longer possible to speak of a natural product.
In the sheep's wool insulation industry, ISOLENA is known as an innovative "hardliner" that checks and then sets the standards in quality. In our view, mixing virgin sheep's wool fibres with synthetic or PLA fibres is not an option in the insulation material sector. not an option.
Wool protection by "finishing" the sheep's wool
Another method is the so-called "finishing" of the insulation material. This is understood to mean Treatment of sheep's woolwhich changes certain properties of the raw material wool. In this case, the finishing is aimed at protecting against pests.
Time and again you hear or read about various active ingredientswith which sheep's wool is treated against moths. We briefly explain the most important ones here.
Borate/boron salt
Boron salt was one of the first agents used on sheep's wool. against insect damage was used. The active ingredient Kills eggs, larvae and insectsbut is unfortunately also extremely Toxic.
Sheep's wool treated with boric salt also partly ensures Fire protectionbut the remedy is Not authorised as an active substance against insect damage.
Despite the initial effect of the poison, there was still repeated damage, as the boric salt volatilised over time and thus No permanent protection against moths and insects offers.
Neem oil
Neem oil, also known as neem oil, is obtained from the Seeds of the Asia-based Neem trees obtained. The active ingredient Azadirachtin is the magic ingredient that keeps pests from eating.
The good thing about neem oil is that it only harms the pests. The bad thing with regard to its use in insulating materials: The active ingredient unfortunately does not have for an approved building material Required long-term effect and post-treatment is not possible for installed insulation materials.
Unfortunately, products treated with neem oil offer No protection against moth infestation.
Thorlan IW
Thorlan IW was a chemical, Permanently effective wool protection of the Thor company.
The tried-and-tested active ingredient was developed by natureplus® tested, classified as harmless and approved as part of natureplus® certification. One of the reasons for this is that Thorlan forms a permanent bond with the virgin sheep's wool, meaning that no emissions are released into the room air. The Indoor climate and therefore the health of the residents is not affected by the active ingredient.
However, Thor GmbH has not renewed its EU authorisation as a wool preservative for economic reasons, which is why Thorlan IW is now no longer available is.
Mitin or sulcofrorone
Sulcoforone is a substance that was used in products with the name "Mitin". The active ingredient is a organic halogen compound and represents a health hazard. Mitin was therefore never an option for genuine, ecological building materials.
For these reasons, co-in banned in the EU since 2006. This means that there should no longer be any EU manufacturers offering sheep's wool insulation with this finish.
Permethrin
Permethrin is a synthetic insecticide. It is used as a contact and Pesticide and has a very broad spectrum of action. In contrast to Thorlan IW the active ingredient is Not permanently bound.
Unfortunately, due to a lack of alternatives, many manufacturers of sheep's wool insulation use permethrin as a wool preservative.
Permethrin-treated insulation materials
This is how wool protection with the biocide permethrin works:
- To ensure that sheep's wool insulation is protected against moths by permethrin, the Insulation material during or at the end of the manufacturing process with the Pesticide treated.
- Insects such as the textile moth or the carpet beetle absorb the neurotoxin, are paralysed and die after some time.
- The lethal effect on insects is usually still very good even when the active ingredient is dwindling. However, if this disappears, it could lead to the toxic dose is no longer sufficient for death. The pests are then only anaesthetised and they recover after a while.
- The active ingredient does not really disappear quickly. The development of the concentration of the active ingredient was tested in several experiments. Thus long-lasting exposure of indoor spaces by the active ingredient. Bad for the moth, good for the toxic effect. Unfortunately, depending on the type of contact with the active ingredient, it can also cause discomfort in humans, although the EU classifies this as harmless.
It is up to the individual to decide to what extent they still consider sheep's wool insulation to be natural and healthy after such pesticide treatment. In any case, the use of the neurotoxin not permitted for natureplus® products.
For further reading:
There are always research reports from NGOs such as Greenpeace that deal with the effects of chemicals and pesticides. Here are two examples that also deal with permethrin (from the pyrethroid group):
Wool protection - our conclusion
Our company, now in its third generation, has been involved in the treatment and processing of virgin sheep's wool in Austria for more than 50 years. Our approach to all our products is to produce them according to highest quality standards, without synthetic additives to process.
We have been endeavouring for a long time and with passion to use the insulating material made of virgin sheep's wool with its exceptional properties in the insulation sector to be established. That is why a Biocide-free wool protection is a matter of course for us.
With our unique Ionic Protect® process, we are very proud to have developed a Lasting effective protection against moths to have developed. This gives us the opportunity to produce and offer natural sheep's wool insulation at a high quality level.
Be careful when choosing a manufacturer, because unfortunately there are also black sheep in our industry from whom we clearly distance ourselves.