Made in Canada · cut to your drawings

Micarta Blocks, Pads and Insulating Washers

Benchmark manufactures STB-1, a glass-reinforced thermoset epoxy laminate supplied wherever drawings call for Micarta blocks, pads or washers. It carries 48,000 psi in compression while stopping heat and electricity from crossing a connection, from −270 °C (−454 °F) up to 135 °C (275 °F) continuous.

We cut, drill and machine every part in house in Canada: insulation blocks for pipe supports, thermal break and equipment pads, and insulating washers, sleeves and bushings for bolted joints. Cut-to-size orders typically ship in 5–7 days.

−270 °C

Minimum operating temperature (−454 °F)

48,000 psi

Compressive strength, ASTM D695

1.055

Thermal conductivity, BTU·in/hr·ft²·°F (ASTM C518)

500 VPM

Dielectric strength, ASTM D149

Micarta Products We Make

Micarta Pads and Sheet

Load-bearing pads in 1/4″ to 2″ thicknesses for steel connections, equipment bases, saddles and supports. Order full sheet or have us cut and drill to size. See specifications →

Micarta Insulation Blocks

Blocks for pipe shoes, guides, anchors and saddles on hot, chilled-water and cryogenic lines, so the support carries the load without carrying the heat or cold. Pipe support blocks →

Micarta Washers, Sleeves and Bushings

Insulating washers and bolt sleeves machined to your bolt size, for flange isolation, dissimilar-metal joints and bolted thermal breaks. Washers and sleeves →

Why Engineers Specify a Micarta-Type Laminate

Carries real load: 48,000 psi (330.9 MPa) compressive strength, 400,671 psi compressive modulus at 1″ thick and 16,326 psi shear strength, with little to no deflection and limited creep.
Blocks heat: thermal conductivity of 1.055 BTU·in/hr·ft²·°F. It conducts heat more than 1,300 times less than aluminum, more than 350 times less than steel and more than 100 times less than stainless steel.
Blocks current: dielectric strength of 500 VPM and arc resistance of 150 seconds, for electrical isolation as well as thermal.
Hot or cold: rated −270 °C (−454 °F) to 135 °C (275 °F) continuous, with brief excursions to 180 °C (356 °F).
Stays dry: 0.35 % water absorption (ASTM D229), so it holds up where condensation and ice form.
Fire tested: ASTM E84 flame spread 25, smoke developed 120; UL 94 Class HB. Red List free.

Full technical data · Micarta grades explained

Where Micarta Blocks and Pads Are Used

Pipe supports: insulated shoes, guides, anchors and saddles on steam, hot oil, chilled water, refrigeration and cryogenic lines
Structural thermal breaks: canopies, balconies, roof dunnage and cladding supports where steel passes through the building envelope
Electrical isolation: substation and switchgear supports, bus bar standoffs and cathodically protected structures
Equipment bases: pumps, compressors, heat exchangers and skids that must be isolated from the foundation
Bolted joints: insulating washers and sleeves for flanges and dissimilar metals
Tank and vessel supports: saddle pads and leg isolators for hot and cold vessels

Micarta Thicknesses and Sizes

Micarta pads and blocks are stocked in five thicknesses and supplied as full sheet or cut and drilled to your drawings. Tell us the thickness for each location and whether you need insulating washers and sleeves to go with the pads. Writing a spec? Our Micarta guide specification is ready to copy into your project manual.

Nominal thickness	Metric
1/4″	6.4 mm
1/2″	12.7 mm
3/4″	19.1 mm
1″	25.4 mm
2″	50.8 mm

Common Questions

Is STB-1 the same as Micarta?

“Micarta” is used for a whole family of pressed laminates, from paper and canvas phenolics to glass-epoxy. STB-1 is a glass-reinforced thermoset epoxy laminate, the strongest and driest end of that family, and is supplied wherever drawings call for Micarta blocks, pads or washers. Compare Micarta grades.

Can you cut Micarta to my drawing?

Yes. Send a drawing or sketch with sizes, hole locations and thickness. We cut, drill and machine every block, pad, washer and sleeve in house.

How fast can I get Micarta pads in Canada?

Cut-to-size orders typically ship in 5–7 days, to anywhere in Canada and internationally. See all FAQs.

Get a Quote on Micarta Blocks and Pads

Send your drawings, quantities and service conditions to sales@bmssi.ca or call 800-580-4195. Every Micarta part is cut in house, so quotes come back quickly.