structuran Crystallized Glass - EXTERNAL FACADES

Designed with specifiers in mind, this brochure describes the character, potential applications and design best practice for a new, revolutionary sheet material, currently in application within the construction and interiors market.

Material Branding

Described fully as crystallized, annealed glassceramic, this pioneering material should not be specified as glass per se but more as a unique stone-like material. Just as you would expect and desire from a natural stone, this exquisite material exhibits natural inconsistencies and flaws, is generally thick, with one finished side (unless the calibrated underside is intended to be polished), and cutting and edging is processed.  Given that the material is not toughenable, like granite it will break into shards and pellets during destruction testing.

Based in the UK,  The Greenhouse Effect Ltd are the main technical sales agents for German patent holders and producers Indupart Glaskeramik GmbH.  

structuran glass ceramic, formed from 100% recycled float glass, is a revolutionary and highly versatile material, with the combined characteristics of glass and natural stone.  Primarily aimed at external applications as a rain screen façade cladding material, structuran® offers either the warm opacity of natural stone, or refined, contemporary levels of translucency – and even transparency – coupled with an unrivaled anti-stain quality and durability.  Defined by its outstanding strength characteristics and integrity, with a Fischer FZP-GZ undercut anchor.  Offering a thinner façade panel solution than stone, thus saving structure, structuran® is available in larger panels.  In earthquake zones, structuran® has a general European approval for cladding at a height of 100m.

Material Nature and Characteristics

This highly sought material is produced entirely from float glass manufacturers’ waste cullet and formed in 2780mm by 1260mm sheets in varying thicknesses of between 15-23mm, although generally 20-21mm and 21-23mm for structuran®.  Consuming just a third of the energy otherwise required for reprocessing at high temperature, the material is fired using bio-gas energy sources, wherever possible.  Once the material has been sintered and formed into sheets, these are then control-cooled, such that the tensile stresses within the glass are moved to the panel edge, providing increased stability, and thus rendering the material in its nature more like granite. The naturally textured “hammered” top surface which results, similar to the bush hammering of stone surfaces, can then be polished down to create a more luxurious reflective finish. Although the underside is generally left as a calibrated flat surface, this too can be polished upon request if visible.  Air bubbles contained within are another unique characteristic of the material, and are kept below a 3mm diameter, predominantly away from the top surface. On cutting, these can be left open, appearing on the rear side.

For the purposes of façade applications, a 21-23mm thickness provides the requisite strength for façade panels of 2m x 1.1m size, up to a height of 100m, as approved by the EU.

In tandem with the EU, the UK is currently carrying out new soft body impact tests, which are expected to allow the use of 21+mm thicknesses for cladding purposes. In addition to pull out anchor testing and continental soft body impact data, we are now able to provide positive UK test data on absorption and flexural strength, as performed by Sandberg consultants.

Colours    

Translucent colours Jade and Galaxy, produced from float glass and low iron glass respectively, form our standard colour range. Highly popular, these colours are keenly specified due to their glass-like qualities and are, therefore, generally held in stock for structuran® use.  On request, however, a full range of bespoke opaque colours is also available.  Unless UV damage requires otherwise, the pigments thus added are organic.  Using smaller cullet sizes with greater crystallization, the hammered finish, opaque colours which result are more akin to natural stone.