Transmaterial

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Transmaterial 1
Jahr: 2006

Within the ever-changing inventory of new products, several brad classifications arise that elucidate the material transformations that are occurring. These classifications are interesting because they highlight important themes, which might be shared between dissimilar products. For example, an aluminium floor system and polypropylene chair are comprised of different substances, but they could be similarly important in their use of recycled materials. The seven broad categories I have proposed are the follows:

1. ULTRAPERFORMING

Throughout human history, material innovation has been defined by the persistent testing of limits. Ultraperforming materials are those which are stronger, lighter, more durable, and more flexible than their conventional counterparts. These materials are important because they shatter known boundaries and necessitate new thinking about the shaping of our physical environment. Interestingly enough, one of the most significant trends in material innovation is actually dematerialization. The ongoing pursuit of thinner, more porous, and less opaque products indicates a notable movement toward greater exposure and ephemerality. It should come as no surprise that ultraperforming materials are generally expensive and difficult to obtain, although many of these products are being developed for a broad market.

1. MULTIDIMENSIONAL

Obviously materials are physically defined by three dimensions, but many products have long been conceived as a collection of flat planes that define space and function. A new trend highlights the exploitation of the z-axis in the manufacturing of a wide variety of materials, ranging from fabrics to wall and ceiling treatments. One reason for this development is that greater depth allows thin materials to become more structurally stable. In addition, materials with enhanced texture and richness are more visually interesting. Augmented dimensionality will likely be a growing movement, especialìy consicìering the technological trends toward miniaturization, systems integration, and prefabrication.

1. REPURPOSED

Repurposed materials may be defined as surrogates, or materials that are used in the place of others conventionally used in an application. Repurposed materials provide several benefits, such as replacing precious raw materials with less precious, more plentiful ones; diverting products from the waste stream; implementing less toxic manufacturing processes; and simply defying convention. A subset of this group is considered repurposed in terms of its functionality, such as tables that become light sources and art that becomes furniture. As a trend, repurpostng is important because it underscores the desire for adaptability, as well as an increasing awareness of our limited resources. While the perfo¡mance of repurposed materials is not always identical to that of the products they replace, sometimes new and unexpected benefits arise from their use.

1. RECOMBINANT

Recombinant materials consist of two or more different materials that act in harmony to create a ptoduct that performs greater than the sum of its parts. Such hybrids are created when inexpensive or recyclable products are used as " filler " ; when a combination allows for the achievement of multiple functions; when a precious resource may be emulated by combining less precious materials; or when different materials act in symbiosis to exhibit high-performance characteristics. Recombinant materials have long proven their performance in the construction industry. Reinforced concrete, which benefits from the compressive strength and fireproof qualities of concrete and the tensile strength of steel, is a classic recombination. The success of recombinant materials rs based on their reliable integration, which is not always predictable. Moreover, they are often comprised of down-cycled components which may be difficult, if not impossible, to re-extract. However, the continued value exhibited by many such hybrids is evidence of a growing trend.

1. INTELLIGENT

lntelligent is a catch-all term for materials that are designed to improve their environment and that often take inspiration from biological systems. They can act actively or passively, and they can be high-tech or low-tech. Many materials in this category indicate a growing focus on manipulation at the microscopic scale. Intelligence is not used here to describe products that have autonomous computational power, but rather products which are inherently smart by design. The varied list of benefrts provided by materials featured here includes pollution reduction, water purification, solar radiation control, natural ventilation, and power generation. An intelligent product may simpÌy be a flexible or modular system that adds value throughout its life cycle. Intelligent materials are significant because their designers and manufacturers are acknowleclging the importance of increased social and environmental stewardship, not to mention the desire to improve upon old models.

1. TRANSFORMATIONAL

Transfor¡national materials undergo a physical metamorphosis based on environmental stimuli. This change may occur automatically based on the properties of the material, or it may be user-driven. Like intelligent materials, transformational materiaìs provide a variety of benef,ts, including waste reduction, enhanced ergonomics, solar control, and illumination, as well as interesting phenomenological effects. Transformational products are important because they offer multipìe func' tions where one would be expected, they provide benefits that few might have imagined, and they simply make us view the world differently.

1. INTERFACIAL

The Interface has been a popular design focus since the Birth of the digital age. As we spend increased amounts of time interacting with computer-based tools and environments, the bridges that facilitate the interaction between physical and virtual worlds are subject to increased scrutiny. Interfacial materials, products, and systems navigate this bridge between the two realms. So-called interfacial products may be virtual instruments that control material manufacturing, or physical manifestations of digital fabrications. These tools are siqnif,cant because they provide unprecedented capabilities, such as enhancing technology-infused work environments, rapidprototyping complex shapes, integrating digital imagery within physical objects, and making the invisible visible.

Materialkategorien im Inhaltsverzeichnis:

1. CONCRETE
2. MINERAL
3. METAL
4. WOOD
5. PLASTIC & RUBBER
6. GLASS
7. PAINT & PAPER
8. FABRIC
9. LIGHT
10. DIGITAL

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