S. Lövenstein BV integrates luminescent particles within gravel floors in order to enhance the emergency-exit signage within a building. The particles can be masked and evenly distributed throughout the surface of the seamless floor, or grouped in patterns like circles, lines, or arrows. They may also be used in combination with various colors of gravel. In the absence of light, such as in the event of a power outage, the particles become immediately recognizable as an evacuation guidance system. Autonomous, reliable, and maintenance free, Luminescent Gravel thus enhances emergency exiting while mitigating panic. [Contact:
S. Lövenstein BV, Gelderland, The Netherlands.]
Labels: 09, floor, light, mineral, safety, transformational
Unlike conventional petroleum-based plastics, polylactic acid (PLA) plastic is mass produced by chemical synthesis using raw materials derived from corn. The production of PLA contributes less CO2 to the atmosphere than that of conventional plastics and offers superior biodegradability after disposal. Because PLA plastics are often more expensive than conventional ones, researchers are developing ways to add value to PLA plastics.
NEC Corporation’s Dr. Masatoshi Iji has developed a PLA-based bioplastic with shape memory and recyclability. The polymer deforms with heat and external pressure and remains in that altered shape when cooled. Once reheated, the plastic returns to its original shape. Shape memory conventionally requires plastics with a cross-linked structure, which prohibits melting and thus recycling. However, NEC’s shape-memory polymer utilizes a characteristic called thermo-reversible cross-linking. The material can be deformed and restored to its original shape by heating at the temperature of a hairdryer (approx. 140°F [60°C]), but if heated to a typical molding temperature 320°F (160°C) the cross-linked structure dissociates, causing the material to melt and enabling easy recyclability.
This recyclable, shape-memory bioplastic allows users to deform the material into any shape, making possible all kinds of new products and applications, like futuristic wearable electronic equipment. [Contact:
NEC, Tsukuba, Japan.]
Labels: 06, plastic, transformational
Structural polymers are susceptible to damage: cracks form deep within the structure where detection is difficult and repair is almost impossible. Damage in polymeric coatings, adhesives, microelectronic components, and structural composites can span many length scales. Structural composites subject to impact loading can sustain significant damage on centimeter length scales, which in turn can lead to subsurface millimeter scale delaminations and micron-scale matrix cracking. Coatings and microelectronic packaging components have cracks that initiate on even smaller scales. Once cracks have formed within polymeric materials, the integrity of the structure is significantly compromised.
Inspired by biological systems in which damage triggers a healing response, Scott White at the Beckman Institute at the University of Illinois developed a structural polymeric material with the ability to autonomically heal cracks. The incorporation of a microencapsulated healing agent and a catalytic chemical trigger within an epoxy matrix accomplished this healing process. An approaching crack ruptures embedded microcapsules, releasing healing agent into the crack plane through capillary action. Polymerization is triggered by contact with the embedded catalyst, bonding the crack faces. [Contact:
Beckman Institute, University of Illinois, Urbana, IL.]
Labels: 06, plastic, polymer, transformational
Like the Lotus flower, which opens its petals in the presence of the sun and closes them in its absence, Hanabi opens its lamp-shade "petals" when its bulb is turned on and closes them after it has been shut off. Representing an innovative use of shape-memory alloy, the heat of the bulb makes the metal "bloom" whenever the fixture is illuminated. Hanabi is the Japanese word for fireworks and literally means flower fire. Like its namesake, the Hanabi light flickers between beauty and disappearance, embodying the Japanese appreciation of ephemerality. [Contact:
Nendo, Tokyo, Japan.]
Labels: 26, light, metal, shape-memory, transformational
Dow Corning's Active Protection System is a "smart" textile that remains soft and flexible until it is struck by high-impact force, in which case the material instantly stiffens to help protect against injury. When the collision has passed, the material immediately becomes flexible again.
The active ingredient in the fabric is a dilatant silicone coating, which is a shear thickening fluid (STF). The viscosity of this coating increases with the rate of shear, therefore defining it as a smart material as it responds to changes within its environment.
The Active Protection System is breathable and flexible for outstanding comfort and freedom of movement, and it can be stitched directly into garments, eliminating the need to insert and remove components. It is less bulky than hard armor, allowing for many creative and fashionable design possibilities. The washable fabric can be layered to provide customized levels of protection for specific areas, and it integrates easily into existing manufacturing processes.
Independent testing shows that the Active Protection System exceeds certain European Standards' impact protection requirements for sports apparel by as much as 40 percent. The fabric’s superior effectiveness is due to its ability to both absorb and distribute impact force, providing protection that is activated earlier and lasts more than twice as long as rigid protective systems. [Contact:
Dow Corning, Midland, MI.]
Labels: 12, fabric, material, transformational
Just when you think you've seen everything that can be done with concrete, along comes another surprise. Developed by Netherlands-based designers Frederik Molenschot and Susanne Happle, Solid Poetry is a concrete tile that reveals a pattern when wet. The floral patterns depicted here are the result of a carefully-applied surface treatment that reveals itself only when exposed to water or humid air.
Molenshot and Happle imagine their Solid Poetry tiles to be appropriate for gardens, poolsides, bathrooms, saunas, or any environment that encounters frequent humidity changes. Solid Poetry thus enhances environments with its additional aesthetic state that results from a rapid response to natural or user-driven stimuli. [via Peerswereld; suggested by Shawn Gehle, Los Angeles.]
Labels: 03, concrete, pattern, transformational, water, wet
Bloomframe is a window frame that can be transformed into a balcony. Designed by Amsterdam-based Hofman Dujardin Architects, the Bloomframe balcony offers a flexible living environment by making it possible to extend the domain of one's facade. In this way, the dynamic balcony enables adding outdoor space to compact apartments in urban high-rise areas.
The Bloomframe balcony can be operated automatically in one movement and with one control. The system includes provisions to guarantee collapse safety during opening and closing, and the drive consists of an rpm-controlled electric motor that operates the balcony at two points via an auto-braking reduction (drop safety). The movement is transferred by tie rods from these linear guides. The fully open position is limited mechanically, which guarantees optimum safety of the converted balcony. The application of a combined powered / mechanical movement makes the system user-friendly and easy to open and close for everyone. [via Hofman Dujardin Architecten; suggested by Corrie Messinger, Columbus, OH.]
Labels: 11, balcony, glass, metal, transformational, window
By using a thin film of magnesium-titanium alloy, the National Institute of Advanced Industrial Science and Technology has produced a switchable mirror that can be easily transformed between reflective and transparent states. The mirror window is 60 x 70 cm in size, and has been designed to reduce energy consumed by air conditioning systems in buildings and automobiles by over 30%.
In the development of early prototypes, Kazuki Yoshimura and his team focused on the use of thin films made of magnesium-nickel alloy that behave as switchable mirrors. Unfortunately, these first versions all had a yellow tinge in their transparent state. The newly developed thin film, however, is made of an alloy of magnesium and titanium, which does not turn yellow in its current configuration. The switchable mirror consists of two layers of glass enclosing a cavity and coated on their interior surfaces with the alloy film. A gas that contains hydrogen at a low concentration of about 1% or oxygen at a concentration of about 20% is introduced to the cavity to activate the switching behavior. [via AIST; suggested by Dace Campbell, Seattle.]
Labels: 8, glass, mirror, transformational
In addition to its positive aesthetic qualities, natural foliage is being used increasingly as a 'living' building material with the pragmatic effects of air purification, acoustic absorption, and thermal insulation.
Patrick Blanc's vertical garden, known as Le Mur Végétal in French, was conceived after thorough studies of a variety of natural environments. The wall-afforestation system relies on a new way to grow plants without any soil.
Since it is very light-weight, it is possible to install the vertical garden on almost any wall, whatever its size. The vertical garden can be implemented outdoors or indoors, in any climatic environment. The plant species are selected according to the prevailing climatic conditions. For an indoor location, artificial lighting is usually required, and watering and fertilization are automated. [via Vertical Garden; suggested by Mikelis Putrams and Kai-Uwe Bergmann, Copenhagen.]
Labels: living, transformational, wall
S. Lövenstein BV integrates luminescent particles within gravel floors in order to enhance the emergency-exit signage within a building. The particles can be masked and evenly distributed throughout the surface of the seamless floor, or grouped in patterns like circles, lines, or arrows. They may also be used in combination with various colors of gravel. In the absence of light, such as in the event of a power outage, the particles become immediately recognizable as an evacuation guidance system. Autonomous, reliable, and maintenance free, Luminescent Gravel thus enhances emergency exiting while mitigating panic. [Contact: S. Lövenstein BV, Gelderland, The Netherlands.]
