Transmaterial » material

Quantum Dots

Blaine Brownell — Fri, 18 May 2012 15:00:59 +0000

With the demise of the incandescent bulb, scientists continue to seek alternative, efficient sources of illumination. Pure white light is especially important, and not easy to produce efficiently.

Discovered in a lab at Vanderbilt University, white light quantum dots are micro-scaled fluorescent beads of cadmium selenide that convert LED-emitted blue light into a warm white similar to the color temperature of incandescent bulbs. This white color is distinct from that produced by white light LEDs, which simulate white light from a combination of monochromatic colors.

Although there were initial concerns over the low efficiency of quantum dots, researchers have since made the technology much more efficient—up to a 45 percent efficiency. “Forty-five percent is as high as the efficiency of some commercial phosphors which suggests that white-light quantum dots can now be used in some special lighting applications,” says lead Vanderbilt chemist Sandra Rosenthal. “The fact that we have successfully boosted their efficiency by more than 10 times also means that it should be possible to improve their efficiency even further.”

Contact: Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN, USA.

Woven Stone

Blaine Brownell — Fri, 27 Apr 2012 14:00:29 +0000

Woven Stone is part of the ASI Specialty Products Magna Mosaic Collection. Earth tones combined with dimensional, geometric features create a powerful and sculptured look, lending an artistic element to any space. The continuous, controlled texture of Woven Stone creates a sense of movement, suitable for the most modern of interiors, including retail, hospitality, healthcare and corporate projects.

Contact: Architectural Systems, Inc., New York, NY, USA.
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Terrazzo Lumina

Blaine Brownell — Fri, 06 Apr 2012 14:00:09 +0000

Terrazzo Lumina Slabs and Tiles are refined concrete surfaces designed to propate and emit light. Illumination travels within the concrete via embedded light-guides and is emitted in pixelated form. The manufacturing process is quite flexible and various geometries and configurations of light terminals are possible. The placement of the light source relative to the emitting surface is also flexible (and serviceable), making the product versatile for use in bar tops, flooring, wall features, and infrastructural projects.

Contact: SensiTile Systems, Ypsilanti, MI, USA.
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Mercury Glass

Blaine Brownell — Fri, 16 Mar 2012 14:00:49 +0000

Silvered glass “Mercury Glass” was invented in the nineteenth century as a decorative substitute for more expensive silver tableware. Where traditional Mercury Glass has a thin glass wall, however, Suzan Etkin Enterprises creates hand blown silvered glass with thick, undulating walls and deposits a film of pure silver into the vessel interior. The thick, undulating wall gives the glass the appearance of liquid metal, transforming a 19th century technology into a 21st century material with unmatched light reflection and refraction properties.

Suzan Etkin engineers and tests each project for safety. Overhead glass vessels can be filled with anti-shatter foam or resin, and Mercury glass elements can assume structural properties when reinforced with steel embedded in structural foam or resin.

Contact: Suzan Etkin Enterprises, New York, NY, USA.
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Power Felt

Blaine Brownell — Fri, 24 Feb 2012 15:00:46 +0000

Scientists at the Center for Nanotechnology and Molecular Materials at Wake Forest University have developed a thermoelectric fabric that converts body heat into electricity. The material is made of layers of interlocking carbon nanotubes and plastic fibers, and feels similar to felt. The thermoelectric technology develops electric current from temperature differences, such as the difference between anatomical temperature and room temperature.

According to Wake Forest researcher Corey Hewitt, “We waste a lot of energy in the form of heat. For example, recapturing a car’s energy waste could help improve fuel mileage and power the radio, air conditioning or navigation system. Generally thermoelectrics are an underdeveloped technology for harvesting energy, yet there is so much opportunity.”

The first prototypes of Power Felt yielded 140 nanowatts of power from 72 layers of nanofabric, and the researchers are currently attempting to increase the output of the technology.

“I imagine being able to make a jacket with a completely thermoelectric inside liner that gathers warmth from body heat, while the exterior remains cold from the outside temperature,” says Hewitt. “If the Power Felt is efficient enough, you could potentially power an iPod, which would be great for distance runners. It’s definitely within reach.”

Contact: Wake Forest University, Winston-Salem, NC, USA.

Textures

Blaine Brownell — Thu, 29 Dec 2011 15:00:47 +0000

R-Cast Textures acrylic material weighs half as much as glass but is 17 times stronger. It is also four times stronger than concrete. Textures are acrylic panels that feature customized patterns sculpted deep into the surface. Without any special illumination, the panels reflect available ambient lighting to produce deep and dramatic shadows. Textures panels are available in opaque, clear, and translucent colors, and may be but to custom shapes and sizes.

Contact: Reynolds Polymer Technology, Inc., Grand Junction, CO, USA.
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Lunalite

Blaine Brownell — Fri, 09 Dec 2011 15:00:22 +0000

Lunalite decorative surfaces exhibit a range of effects, from rustic textures to metallic shimmer. This collection of sophisticated interlayers features materials like mica, gold flake and sisal fibers, giving surfaces depth and complexity. Custom fabrication ensures that each organic Lunalite surface is unique. Natural, metallic, holographic and recycled inclusions are embedded in a range of materials including glass and acrylic, and glass panels may be tinted to match virtually any color. Lunalite technology can be applied to doors, windows, dividers, walls, counter tops, and displays.

Contact: Architectural Systems, Inc., New York, NY, USA.
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Expancel

Blaine Brownell — Fri, 11 Nov 2011 15:00:21 +0000

Unexpanded Expancel thermoplastic microspheres are small plastic particles that contain a droplet of liquid hydrocarbon. When heated, the plastic shells soften and the liquid builds pressure causing the particles to expand. The result is gas filled, thin walled particles of extremely low density. The particles are compressible and resilient, and these properties are transferred to the material or component to which they have been added. The closed cell microspheres are good thermal and acoustic insulators.

Expancel is available in expanded or unexpanded forms for different applications. In the heat activatable, unexpanded form Expancel is used as a foaming agent for expandable coatings and gap-filling adhesives, intumescent coatings and sealants, puff ink, as well as extruded and molded plastic items. The pre-expanded form of Expancel is an ultra-low density, resilient filler used in thermoset polyester resins, compressible elastomers, vibration damping materials, paint, roof coatings, adhesives, sealants, and prosthetic devices.

Contact: Eka Chemicals Inc., Duluth, GA, USA.
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Fusion

Blaine Brownell — Fri, 04 Nov 2011 14:00:16 +0000

Fusion incorporates the iridescent color features of dichroic glass with clear or low iron options. Fissures and air bubbles also become integral components of the finished glass pieces, making the final appearance even more visually captivating. Comprised by up to 30% recycled content and offered in multiple colors and finishes, Fusion is a celebration of the robust decorative potential of glass.

Contact: Nathan Allan Glass Studios Inc., Richmond, BC, Canada.
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Ambient Glow Technology

Blaine Brownell — Fri, 28 Oct 2011 14:00:15 +0000

Ambient Glow Technology (AGT) is a proprietary blend of non-shrinking, extremely hard polyester resin and photoluminescent pigment. Exhibiting extremely high luminosity, AGT was specifically formulated for use in decorative concrete, concrete, stucco, plasters, cementitious overlays, terrazzo, and epoxy applications. AGT aggregates produce an unusual ambient light source, enhancing safety in low light level conditions for over 12 hours after exposure to sunlight for only 10 minutes. The application of AGT in exterior landscaping projects can actually reduce the need for electrically-powered lighting by up to 70% per evening. AGT’s daylight or ‘native’ color is off-white, and afterglow colors are available in yellow-green, aqua blue and sky blue.

Contact: Ambient Glow Technology, Pickering, Ontario, Canada.
Find more information in Transmaterial 3.