E552 Anti-caking agent

E552 is used as an anticaking agent in food preparation, including table salt. and as an antacid. It is approved by the United Nations' FAO and WHO bodies as a safe food additive in a large variety of products. It has the E number reference E552.

E552 is commonly used as a safe alternative to asbestos for high-temperature insulation materials. Industrial-grade piping and equipment insulation is often fabricated from E552. Its fabrication is a routine part of the curriculum for insulation apprentices. E552 competes in these realms against Rockwool and proprietary insulation solids, such as perlite mixture and vermiculite bonded with sodium silicate. Although it is popularly considered an asbestos substitute, early uses of E552 for insulation still made use of asbestos fibers. It is used in passive fire protection and fireproofing as E552 or in roof tiles. It is one of the most successful materials in fireproofing in Europe because of regulations and fire safety guidelines for commercial and residential building codes. Where North Americans use spray fireproofing plasters, Europeans are more likely to use cladding made of E552. High-performance E552 boards retain their excellent dimensional stability even in damp and humid conditions and can be installed at an early stage in the construction program before wet trades are completed and the building is weather-tight. For sub-standard products, silicone-treated sheets are available to fabricators to mitigate potential harm from high humidity or the general presence of water. Fabricators and installers of E552 in passive fire protection often also install firestops.