Xtralite (Rooflights) Ltd: UK distributorship for Nanogel® filled multiwall polycarbonate panels for commercial sloped glazing applications

Xtralite (Rooflights) Ltd, the UK's leading roof glazing specialist, with a solid reputation for well-designed, high quality products backed by excellent service has been appointed as distributor in the UK for Nanogel® filled multiwall polycarbonate panels for commercial glazing systems.

Nanogel translucent aerogel is Cabot Corporation's innovative daylighting material that combines high light transmission with energy efficiency.

Nanogel filled polycarbonate multi-wall sheet will allow architects substantially greater design freedom, allowing a wider scope to maximize natural light to 'museum light' quality, and at the same time meet the increasingly lower U-values required by building insulation regulations.

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 maintain light transmission values when used as 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 globally, allowing architects to maximise the advantages of natural light in building design, while meeting the lower U-values demanded by progressively tougher building insulation codes.

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.

First application at Meadow Wood School, Bushey, Hertfordshire.

For the re-roofing of its classroom area at Meadow Wood School, the building's owners, Hertfordshire County Council, needed to address the particular problem with solar overheating in the summer, heat loss during cooler periods, and glare making it an uncomfortable teaching space.

Xtralite (Rooflights) Ltd's proposal using Nanogel, presented a good overall solution. This consists of an Xtralite XSPAN Ridge Construction with one change in direction and vertically glazed gable ends. The construction has an overall length 8.98m and is 4.68m wide. In this application a U value of 1.31 W/M²K was achieved, with a light transmission rate of 57% and a G-Value of .64.

According to John Ladner of Mouchel Parkman: "The Xtralite System incorporating Nanogel is performing above our expectations.

The temperature reduction during a recent spell of hot weather was significant. Coupled with the soft even light, and the removal of glare, we are delighted that the school now has an extremely comfortable teaching space which can be used throughout the entire year."

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 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.