Posts Tagged ‘mineral’

Sensitive Apertures

Sensitive Apertures is a modular slip-cast ceramic building skin designed to admit a small quantity of light through a refractive glass aperture. This opening redirects sunlight onto the inside surface of the cell, projecting an even luminous glow to the interior space. The 1% open apertures admit levels...

July 9th, 2010 | feature, mineral | Read More

CarbonCoat

Geckos possess the remarkable ability to climb vertical walls without using any adhesive glue. A gecko’s feet are covered by tiny hairs that stick to rough and smooth surfaces using van der Waals forces. Inspired by the gecko design, Ali Dhinojwala and researchers at the University of Akron have...

May 15th, 2010 | feature, metals | Read More

Electroboard

Electroboard is an interior finish material that pairs flat-wire technology with a fire resistant gypsum core. It provides an electrified low-voltage surface accessible with a proprietary connector that one pushes into the face of the wall. As an alternative to traditional track-based lighting systems,...

December 18th, 2009 | feature, mineral | Read More

Tiled Wall

Made of ceramic tiles projecting from an illuminated background, Rogier Sterk’s Tiled Wall offers users an opportunity to play with light. Each tile is attached to a mechanism that allows it to be pressed and released. A tile left untouched appears to be lit only around the edges. Once a tile is pressed,...

November 4th, 2009 | feature, light | Read More

Terrart

Today, masonry is used in building facades more often for its durability and weather protection than for its traditional qualities as a load-bearing material. NBK Keramik’s Terrart is a suspended rainscreen facade system made from terra-cotta. Terrart consists of large, precisely crafted ceramic elements...

October 8th, 2009 | mineral | Read More

Transparent Ceramics

Translucent alumina ceramics have exhibited low mechanical properties and a low in-line transmission of unscattered light (less than fifteen percent) because of their coarse micro-structures (greater than 20 μm). New transparent corundum ceramics avoid these shortcomings and can be manufactured with...

September 12th, 2009 | feature, mineral | Read More

Texxus

Texxus creates 3D surface forms and textures for architectural, industrial, and consumer products. Using advanced modeling and production software, Texxus creates surfaces at any scale and produces them in suitable materials using computer-controlled manufacturing technology. Previously unachievable...

July 28th, 2009 | digital, feature | Read More

Strong Enviroboard

Strong Enviroboard (SEB) is a multifunctional wallboard and floorboard composed of magnesium oxide, aerated rock, and recycled cellulose from furniture manufacturing. When layers of ingredients are poured into a mold, the composition bonds exothermically at room temperature, thus requiring no added energy....

November 14th, 2008 | feature, mineral | Read More

Thallium-Doped Lead Telluride

Thermoelectric materials convert waste heat to electricity without pollution. Given the rising cost of energy to run cars, power generators, and heat pumps, the scientific community has been scrutinizing these materials with increased interest. The average automobile engine, for example, wastes up to...

August 3rd, 2008 | mineral | Read More

Permapave

The management of storm water runoff has become a significant environmental and economical challenge in cities. Conventional drainage systems are designed to carry water great distances to large municipal sewer systems. Moreover, storm water is often combined with other sewage, resulting in a significant...

July 14th, 2008 | mineral | Read More