Nanogel (insulation)

Nanogel is a brand of aerogel insulation mainly used in building products and oil and gas industries. It is sometimes called "frozen smoke". It is made by Cabot Corporation, which has a plant in Frankfurt, Germany. It is an aerogel that consists of 95% air, in nano-sized pores that inhibit heat transfer through the aerogel. Made in grades from opaque to translucent, it can be adapted to different environments.

Properties include:

• High porosity: Highly porous structure provides high reinforcement and matting efficiency at low concentrations
• Flowability: Excellent flow properties
• Friability: Under intense dispersion conditions, particles are reduced to sub-micrometer sizes, leading to superior reinforcement
• Hydrophobic surface: Particles repel water but can be wetted by oleophilic substances such as oils
• Open porosity: Pores are open to each other within the structure
• Particle size: Available in a wide range of particle sizes
• Surface treatment: Surface groups are chemically anchored to the silica skeleton and thus are stable over a wide range of temperatures and pH

Nanogel in Skylighting

Nanogel is increasingly being used in skylights and daylighting systems. It helps to retain the natural light while doubling the insulation.^[1] It is non-toxic, non-combustible, reduces glare, lowers noise levels and reduces HVAC loads.

Although the added insulation saves energy costs, and - depending on the climate - may be cost-effective in the long run, the initial cost may be prohibitive for lower budget projects.

References

1. ^ http://www.duo-gard.com/nanogel

External links

• Official Site of Nanogel

• Exclusive Nanogel Distributors in North America