Nanogel® translucent aerogel lights up the kitchen

The latest innovative use of Nanogel® translucent aerogel is a 660 x 1220mm monopitch skylight for a new kitchen extension in south London. This is the first application of its kind in Europe.

The size of the project required a large area of daylighting. However, due to energy-saving regulations, which have become more stringent in the UK, use of conventional glass was not an option. The alternative was to find a highly insulating, high light-transmitting daylighting system that would maximise the amount of daylight and satisfy the Regulations.

Through a search on the Internet, the customer found information on the Kalwall®+ daylight diffusing system and determined that Kalwall+ Nanogel met both the energy and daylighting requirements. Nanogel translucent aerogel is a silica aerogel, and the world's lightest and best insulating solid material. Incorporated within Kalwall’s standard daylighting system, the product can provide as much energy savings as a solid roof or wall. In addition, the translucent material allows more natural, even daylight to be transmitted into surrounding areas. With an achievable U value of 0.28 (W/m².K), the system provides insulation that is four times better than insulating glass units.

The combination of Kalwall + Nanogel daylighting insulation provided a physical and aesthetic solution that met all the requirements of the Building Regulations. Unlike glass, Kalwall daylighting unit eliminated shadows, glare and hot-spots, and radically reduced maintenance. Increased privacy was an added benefit, as the Kalwall translucent panels provided soft, natural, even light while obscuring sight of the house next door.

Kalwall + Nanogel systems are available as skylights and wallsystems in an endless variety of sizes and configurations. Standard skylights, such as used in this kitchen, range from 1220 mm wide x 3660 mm in length and are 70 mm thick. Light transmission averages 20% while the Solar heat gain coefficient is 0.12. Units are supplied by Stoakes Systems Ltd (tel +44 208 660 7667) or visit www.stoakes.co.uk or www.rooflights.net.

Reader enquiries

Cabot Corporation
Interleuvenlaan 15 I
B-3001 Leuven

Belgium
+32 1639 2578
Donald_Beck@​Cabot-Corp.com
www.cabot-corp.com

---

Notes for editors

About Kalwall

Since 1955, Kalwall has been acclaimed for its innovation and continued research into daylighting the development of translucent building technologies. No other manufacturer in the world has dedicated its entire existence of nearly half a century to the art and science of designing with daylight. The continuous evolution of the Kalwall translucent sandwich building panel technology, invented by company founder Robert Keller, has made it possible for architects and building designers to fully exercise their imaginations to incorporate daylight into their designs.

Additional information is available on the company website: www.kalwall.com.

About Nanogel

Cabot Corporation created Nanogel, in part to insulate thermally inefficient glazing systems. The feather-light aerogel is based on Cabot's patented surface modification and fine-particle manufacturing technology. The nanoporous particles have an air content of 97% and weigh only 80g per litre, making Nanogel the lightest solid material in the world. It provides a superior combination of thermal and sound insulation as well as light transmission and diffusion over other insulation materials. These benefits offer new design solutions for architects where both maximum natural daylight levels and energy efficiency are required. Nanogel is manufactured exclusively by Cabot in Frankfurt, Germany.

Visit the website at: www.nanogel.com.

About Cabot Corporation

Cabot Corporation is a global specialty chemicals and materials company headquartered in Boston, Massachusetts, USA. Cabot's major products are carbon black, fumed silica, inkjet colorants, capacitor materials, and cesium formate drilling fluids.

The website address is: www.cabot-corp.com.

Nanogel is a registered trademark of Cabot Corporation.

Kalwall is a registered trademark of Kalwall Corporation USA.