Cabot Nanogel® translucent aerogel shines a new light on architectural design freedom the world’s most advanced light weight daylighting insulation material to be featured at 100% detail

Architects can now achieve unique building designs with enhanced daylighting and insulation using Nanogel® translucent aerogel from Cabot Corporation. The new daylighting material and examples of new applications will be presented at the Cabot stand N° H50 at 100% Detail exhibition, 22-25 September 2005, Earl’s Court 2, London.

Aerogel materials are the best insulating and lightest solid materials in the world. Nanogel translucent aerogel is the world’s most advanced, lightweight thermal insulation material that can double the insulation and light transmission values when used as a filler within fiberglass, polycarbonate, or glass wall panels and/or skylights. Nanogel aerogel is also sound absorbent, and will not promote the growth of mold and mildew because the material is water resistant.

Within the past year, Nanogel has been cited for being ‘the best translucent insulation for glazing in the world’ by the RIBA (Royal Institute of British Architects) Journal Innovation Award 2004 and the ‘Best Innovative Product for Energy Savings’ at Bau 2005, Germany’s leading building and construction exhibition.

Specifically designed for the daylighting market, Nanogel is now being used in commercial applications throughout Europe, allowing architects to maximise the advantages of natural light in building design, while meeting the higher R-values demanded by progressively tougher building insulation codes.

Examples of how Nanogel’s excellent light diffusion advances design freedom will be on display at Cabot’s stand at 100% Detail. Prominent will be Nanogel-filled Texlon® fabric developed by Vector Foiltec used in its renowned Texlon ETFE foil cushions and the first installation of the Xtralite's modular rooflight system based on Nanogel-filled Lexan® Thermoclear® multi-wall sheet in a school in Meadow Wood.

At the show Cabot will be exhibiting alongside product partners Kalwall (distributed in the UK by Stoakes Systems), GE Plastics Specialty Film & Sheet, Okalux, Reglit Glass Architecture and Xtralite (Rooflights ) Ltd, who all have these proven innovative glazing solutions installed in the UK.

Nanogel substantially exceeds conventional materials used to provide light diffusion and thermal insulation when compared with alternative materials used in the construction of translucent building elements such as fibreglass reinforced translucent polyester and translucent multi-wall polycarbonate panels, unit skylights, U-channel glass and insulated flat-glass products.

The feather-light Nanogel is 97% air and is manufactured through a patented surface modification and fine-particle technology developed by Cabot. Poured into translucent glazing panels and packed to prevent settling, the material has a density of 60-80kg/m3. Depending on panel thickness, Nanogel can deliver light transmission up to 80%/cm and an U Value of 0.7 (W/m².K) at 25 mm thickness. Moreover, it is also an effective sound insulator, providing up to 50% acoustic reduction at lower frequencies. These benefits provide architects with the possibility for new design solutions where both maximum natural daylight levels and energy efficiency, as well as user comfort, are required.

Nanogel’s outstanding profile provides for better daylighting in living, leisure and working environments together with improved energy consumption and reduced HVAC costs. Moreover, maintaining both performance and aesthetic appearance over the working life of its application, Nanogel translucent aerogel filled panels are provided with a 10-year warranty against loss of light transmission, thermal conductivity and UV resistance, as well as resistance to mould and fungus.

Reader enquiries

Cabot Corporation
Interleuvenlaan 15 I
B-3001 Leuven

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

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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.

Lexan and Thermoclear are registered trademarks of General Electric Company.

Texlon is a registered trademark of Vector Foiltec.