October 28, 2015

7 New Materials Resist Heat, Water and More


New ideas pour out of

Material ConneXion

‘s materials library, with brainstorms in the forecast.


1. Material

: PureTemp Bio-Based Phase Change.


Manufacturer

:

Entropy Solutions

.


Composition

: Animal fat and plant oil.


Standout

: To insulate, a nontoxic and biodegradable compound, available in many formats, absorbs or releases heat simply by melting or freezing.



2. Material

: Molded Composite Panels.


Manufacturer

:

Neucor

.


Composition

: Wood fiber and resin.


Standout

: Compression-bearing raised sections of the panels are concentrated at their top and bottom, increasing volume while reducing material use.



3. Material

: Reflective SuperFabric.


Manufacturer

:

Higher Dimension Materials

.


Composition

: Polyester and epoxy.


Standout

: Armor platelets, bonded to the surface of lightweight fabric, establish a barrier that stubbornly resists water, stains, abrasion, and punctures, even rodents.



4. Material

: Dye Sublimation Process.


Manufacturer

:

Kolorfusion International

.


Composition

: Polymer and ink.


Standout

: Printed patterns are embedded in this substrate’s top layer, so complex shapes are easily embellished and detailed graphics transferred with precision.



5. Material

: Mawata.


Manufacturer

: Chul Thai Silk Co.


Composition

: Silk.


Standout

: Postindustrial silkworm cocoon waste is heat-pressed into sheets that are soft, lustrous, colorfast, insulating, and impervious to fire and UV rays.



6. Material

: Cork & Felt.


Manufacturer

:

Danskina

.


Composition

: Cork and wool.


Standout

: Strips of two ultra-natural favorites are sandwiched together in flooring and wall covering that can contribute LEED points for the use of renewables.



7. Material

: Blown Metal Shapes.


Manufacturer

:

Full Blown Metals

.


Composition

: Electroplated and mirror-polished stainless steel.


Standout

: Contrasting squares of foil are welded at the edges and inflated to create pillows that retain their puffy profiles for a surprisingly long time.


>> See more from the October 2015 issue of

Interior Design



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