New Materials

By Esther Maganga

Silica Aerogel Alphamesh Dichrolam Carbon Fiber Litracon Temperature sensitive tiles Self healing concrete Superhydrophobic coating Magic glass Steel Velcro

Silica Aerogel

•  The worlds lightest solid material known to exist

•  3 times heavier than air •  Dry, porous, transparent, low-density solid material

Aerogel is light Aerogel is strong

•  A 2.5 kg brick supported on top of a piece of aerogel weighing only 2 grams –

over 1000 times lighter

Oregon Museum of Science and Industry roof

Aerogel insulates

•  Used for transparent window insulation

•  Keeps buildings warm •  40 times better

insulation than fiber glass

•  Let light through

Alphamesh

•  New Material for architecture and interior design

•  Usually made from brass, aluminium or stainless steel •  Versatile for indoor & outdoor use •  Applications: formative facade elements, store construction,

design of trade fair stands

•  Can be manufactured in optional dimension •  Available in standard diameter of 7 mm or 12 mm •  Flexible: can be bent, twisted, elongated, tensioned, braced or

suspended

•  Non-renewable

Swarovski Veil in Wattens, Austria

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Scale mesh

Dichrolam

What is Dichrolam? •  Color changing architectural glass •  Color shifts according to viewers angle •  Type - laminated glass or plastic sheet

Colors produced in: •  Black sea – applied to annealed glass, tabletops,

wall tiles, wall art panels and tempered glass •  Caribbean – applied to opaque lamination •  Holographic Sea - unique lamination •  Crystal Sea - Translucent sheets with full color-shift.

Perfect for doors and  semi-privacy panels like conference room dividers and restaurant partitions.

Utrikespolitiska Institutet (Stockholm)

Hard Rock Cafe – tempered Dichrolam red

Carbon Fiber

Bath

Carbon fibre bus shelter

Structure made of 24 twisted strands of pultruded and braided carbon fiber

•  Super strong yet lightweight (5 times stronger than steel?)

•  High stiffness, high tensile strength, high

chemical resistance, high temperature tolerance, and low thermal expansion

•  Usually combine with other materials to form a

composite e.g. carbon fibre reinforced plastic

Carbon Fiber

Bathtub

C - Bench

•  More expensive than glass fibres or plastic fibres

•  Not easily recycled

•  Also used in aerospace and automotive engineering

•  Architects best friend

•  Light Transmitting Concrete •  Translucent •  A mixture of optical glass fibres and fine

concrete Can be used for: •  Interior or exterior walls •  Illuminating pavements •  design objects •  prefabricated blocks •  Panels •  Art Properties: •  prefabricated blocks •  96% concrete, 4% fibre •  Polished finish •  Max block size 1200 x 400 mm •  Thickness 25 – 500 mm •  Available in white, grey and black

Litracon

Interior wall leading to bathroom

Main entrance door of Museum Cella Septichora