Transmaterial » material

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.
Find more information in Transmaterial 3.

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.

Kraftplex

Blaine Brownell — Fri, 12 Aug 2011 14:00:01 +0000

Kraftplex combines the characteristics of metal, composite materials and plastics. Comprised by 100% unbleached wood fibers with no added binders or adhesives, it is a stable, flexible and durably-shapeable metal akin to metal sheets. Because Kraftplex has electrically-isolating properties, it is a good alternative to conventional plastic sheeting. It is also flexible enough that 3D shaping via deep-drawing and edge-shaping are possible. Kraftplex may be easily cut, drilled, perforated, and adhered using common woodworking tools. It can also be treated with paints, varnishes, oils, waxes, and adhesives—as well as covered with decor film and printed.

Contact: Well Ausstellungssystem GmbH, Hannover, Germany.
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Mycoply

Blaine Brownell — Fri, 15 Jul 2011 16:00:55 +0000

Mycoply board is a mycological biomaterial that is actually grown in a few months. It has properties similar to balsa wood and can be easily formed when saturated, yet will hold shape once dried. Athough balsa wood is biodegradable and natural, it is not easy renewable and disrupts its local environment when harvested. Mycoply, however, is rapidly renewable, grown using agricultural byproducts, and does not interrupt its surrounding ecosystem. Mycoply can replace core materials such as balsa, honey comb, or a variety of petrol foams for wind turbine blades, boat hulls, lightweight vehicle panels and many other applications.

Mycoply also represents a low-embodied-energy manufacturing process as the material self assembles at room temperature and pressure in the dark. Additionally, its performance is superior in many ways to current structural core materials due to the ease in which it may be bent and formed. MycoPly reduces waste as it is grown to near-net shape and does not require post-processing.

Contact: Ecovative Design, Troy, NY, USA.
Find more information in Transmaterial 3.

Jali Cascata Zari

Blaine Brownell — Fri, 08 Jul 2011 14:00:35 +0000

Sensitile Systems’ Jali Cascata Zari panels combine the light refractive properties of their Jali series of panels—acrylic-based composites designed to harness and extend the intensity of ambient illumination—with the color dispersion of a dichoric film layer. The result is a visually-arresting array of multiple colors that dynamically respond to changing viewing angles, producing unexpected changes in tandem with contextual lighting conditions.

Contact: SensiTile Systems, Ypsilanti, MI, USA.
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Fly Ash Panels

Blaine Brownell — Fri, 01 Jul 2011 14:00:22 +0000

Fly ash is the waste product of burning coal that is comprised mainly of silica, alumina, iron, and calcium. Fly ash is often combined with cement as an additive, but only up to a certain percentage of concrete may be fly ash.

Carolyn Dry has developed a method of fabricating building panels and insulation out of nearly 100% fly ash in order to sequester these heavy metals so that they do not leach out and pollute the environment. Essentially cooking the ash into a solid, Dry utilizes a flux which allows processing at lower temperatures—thus using less energy and fewer chemicals. Components such as building panels, bricks, and insulation may be produced without the need for binders such as cement.

Contact: Natural Process Design, Inc., Winona, MN, USA.
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Lumisty

Blaine Brownell — Thu, 30 Jun 2011 14:00:40 +0000

Lumisty first drew widespread attention when it was used on the windows of Pleats Please, Issey Miyake’s clothing boutique in SOHO.

Upon first encountering the product, people are often struck by what seems like an optical illusion. Walking past a window with Lumisty applied, a perfectly clear, transparent glass surface becomes partially fogged. Two or three steps later, the same window is completely fogged. As the viewer’s angle shifts, so does the transparency or translucency of the film.

Contact: Madico Inc. / GlassFilm Enterprises Inc., Woburn, MA, USA.
Find more information in Transmaterial.