Transmaterial » thermal

Bio-Based Foams

Blaine Brownell — Fri, 16 Jul 2010 14:00:41 +0000

The Center for Composite Materials has synthesized flexible/rigid polyurethane foams from soybean oil polyols. The advantage of these foams is that they can replace petroleum-based materials (synthetic polyols) and can be used for many applications. The morphology of the foams can be controlled by several factors: the type and functionality of the soybean oil polyols, the type of curing agents, the amount of water, and the amount of catalyst. Both flexible and rigid foams can be developed from vegetable oils by implementing different processes. The biocontent of the foams varies from 33 to 96 weight percent. The use of this biodegradable, locally harvested, and renewable source has economic and environmental advantages that make it an attractive alternative to petroleum-based materials.

Contact: Center for Composite Materials, University of Delaware, Newark, DE.
Find more information in Transmaterial 3.

Parabienta

Blaine Brownell — Fri, 29 Jan 2010 15:00:53 +0000

Parabienta is a vertical greening system for buildings developed by Japan-based Shimizu Corporation. Composed of units that incorporate Excelsoil solidified soil base in stainless steel wire frames, a lush green wall may be achieved quickly with the installation of the system. Parabienta has been shown to reduce solar heat gain on facades, thus reducing building energy costs. The system mitigates noise transfer as well, especially in the high frequency range.

Parabienta vertical greening units can be arranged to make various designs. Different kinds of plants can be utilized for different colors and textures as well as different performance criteria. In addition, units may easily be relocated or replaced when design or maintenance needs dictate.

Contact: Shimizu Corporation, Tokyo, Japan.
Find more information in Transmaterial 3.

Greenscreen

Blaine Brownell — Wed, 06 Jan 2010 15:00:52 +0000

Greenscreen is a landscape trellis system for fencing, wall-mounted applications, or freestanding enclosures. When combined with a variety of climbing vines, Greenscreen becomes a “living wall” that can provide privacy, shading and cooling, security and spatial definition, and acts as an effective antigraffiti treatment. The main component of this modular system is a 3D welded wire trellis panel, which is manufactured in Southern California from recycled-content galvanized steel wire.

Contact: Impac International, Fontana, CA, USA.
Find more information in Transmaterial.

Mycobond

Blaine Brownell — Fri, 11 Dec 2009 15:00:40 +0000

Mycobond is a mycological bio-composite that can be used in a wide variety of applications. Instead of conventional manufacturing processes, Mycobond uses mycelium—which is essentially the root system of a mushroom—to transform loose aggregates into strong composites. This process can be varied by using different species of fungus and mixtures of aggregates in order to make a composite with an optimal density, strength, appearance, and performance for the specific application.

Additionally, Mycobond represents a low-embodied-energy manufacturing process as the material self assembles at room temperature and pressure in the dark. Furthermore, Mycobond upcycles resources like rice hulls, cotton burrs, and buckwheat hulls that are otherwise thrown away, transforming them into valuable products, including rigid board insulation and protective packaging buffers.

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

Stomatex

Blaine Brownell — Tue, 13 Oct 2009 13:00:21 +0000

Neoprene is used extensively in the water sports, soft orthopedic, sportswear, footwear, equestrian, and thermal protective equipment sectors. However, conventional neoprene causes serious discomfort when worn against the skin of humans or animals. Stomatex overcomes this discomfort by dynamically removing moisture.

Stomatex embodies technology that allows impermeable materials (closed cell foams) to transfer heat and perspiration from the body. Stomatex technology has been successfully applied to closed cell neoprene with further variants under development. The product is currently being used in sports supports, equestrian products, and other similar products.

Contact: Stomatex, London, UK.
Find more information in Transmaterial.

Tri-Chord Steel

Blaine Brownell — Mon, 12 Oct 2009 13:00:12 +0000

A recycled steel stud system can be an environmentally superior choice to virgin wood studs, but thermal bridging between the highly conductive steel studs and the building envelope presents a challenge for energy-efficient design. Tri-Chord Steel Systems manufacturers the most thermally efficient steel framing components available. Tri-Chord studs have the highest thermal, seismic, acoustic, and fire ratings for steel framing and will meet the thermal transference of wood. Tri-Chord Steel Studs are structural and will carry up to 5,170 pounds per stud. They are also one-hour fire rated on load bearing interior and exterior walls.

The Tri-Chord Stud and Truss Systems were designed to minimize thermal bridging, and contain sixty-six to sixty-eight percent postconsumer recycled content from wrecked automobiles and other sources. In profile, the studs and trusses have triangular sections at each edge and discreet webs spanning the wall cavity, instead of a solid heat-conducting steel webs. Tri-Chord Steel also offers floor trusses (CRS), which span great distances due to the strength of the triangular profile.

Contact: Tri-Chord Steel Systems, Inc., Phoenix, AZ, USA.
Find more information in Transmaterial.

Transparent Ceramics

Blaine Brownell — Sat, 12 Sep 2009 14:00:08 +0000

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 complex (even hollow) shapes and with a four-point bending strength of six hundred to seven hundred megapascals and a macrohardness HV10 greater than 20 GPa. The in-line transmission of transparent ceramics is close to sixty percent in visible light and approaches the theoretical limit in the infrared range. An even higher visible light transmission (greater than eighty percent at one millimeter thickness) is enabled by new submicrometer spinel, which has a macrohardness of HV10 = 14.5 GPa.

Faceted colored gemstones of about one and a half carats have been manufactured with a polycrystalline sub-μm microstructure of transparent ceramics, and filters have been manufactured for optical applications with the same material. Future applications include superstrong and heat-resistant windows as well as transparent armor.

Contact: Fraunhofer IKTS, Dresden, Germany.
Find more information in Transmaterial.

UltraTouch

Blaine Brownell — Thu, 27 Aug 2009 16:17:24 +0000

Bonded Logic, Inc., makes insulation out of recycled blue jeans. UltraTouch is a Class-A building material made from postindustrial recycled natural cotton/denim fibers that are treated with a Borate (boric acid) solution. UltraTouch meets the highest standards for fire, fungi, and corrosion resistance.

UltraTouch contains no chemical irritants or formaldehyde and requires no warning labels. Unlike fiberglass insulation, UltraTouch does not itch, is easy to handle, and can be installed without the use of protective clothing.

UltraTouch offers an extremely high noise reduction coefficient (NRC) to effectively reduce airborne sound transmissions, resulting in exceptional soundproofing in every room.

Contact: Bonded Logic, Inc., Chandler, AZ, USA.
Find more information in Transmaterial.

Light-Emitting Roof Tiles

Blaine Brownell — Sun, 14 Oct 2007 18:25:00 +0000

The roof has historically focused on one primary function: keeping out the elements. New technologies, as present in Light-Emitting Roof Tiles, allow the integration of additional functions within roof surfaces. Manufactured by Lambert Kamps, the transparent roof tiles are integrated light-emitting diodes (LEDs) and designed to display text, pictures, and other graphical content in multiple colors. Information may also be animated, such as with an illuminated news trailer. Light-Emitting Roof Tiles also come with their own self-supporting solar-photovoltaic power system.

Contact: Lambert Kamps, Groningen, The Netherlands.
Find more information in Transmaterial 2.

Interactive Inks

Blaine Brownell — Mon, 03 Apr 2006 23:02:00 +0000

Founded in 1993, Chromatic Technologies, Inc. is a privately held corporation that creates offset, flexographic, and screen inks which change color with heat and cold (thermochromic) or sunlight and darkness (photochromic). CTI was the first to develop a thermochromic offset ink and holds several U.S. and Canadian patents for this technology. CTI also makes a Glow-in-the-Dark ink.

Thermochromic Inks come in three standard temperatures: 15C (Low temp), 31C (Body temp) and 45C (High temp). The ‘Low Temperature’ ink is used for applications in the refrigeration temperature range, like beverage labels. ‘Body Temperature’ ink is designed to show color at normal room temperature and to change when rubbed with the finger or by breathing on it. It is used on documents and security packaging. The ‘High Temperature’ formulation changes color just below the pain threshold temperature for skin, and is used on safety labels and hot beverage labels.

Photochromic Inks are invisible unless UV light, e.g. sunlight, hits them. Once UV light hits the ink, it blooms into color. This special brand of ink is great for everything from high-security documents and products to interactive advertising and direct mail pieces. With photochromics, no special techniques are needed to hide an image; the image is colorless until it is taken outside into sunlight or placed under UV lighting.

Glow-in-the-Dark (GID) inks are not a new concept. CTI has taken traditional GID inks to the next level by inventing Flexographic and Offset inks. There are thousands of safety applications for these inks, and even more promotional ideas. By using high speed printing methods, this very popular special effect can be added at a very low incremental cost.

Contact: Chromatic Technologies, Inc., Colorado Springs, CO.