ULTRAPERFORMING Beams/ Columns Doors ... - fen-om data

Insulating Wood-Cement Forms
Faswall wall-forms are used as the forms for poured concrete walls, yet left in place to provide
permanent insulation around concrete structures as well as a durable surface to apply whatever
surface finish is desired. No additional insulation, exterior sheathing, bracing or “wrap” is
needed. Not only are material costs reduced, but labor costs for installation are eliminated as
well. This system allows almost any fibrous material, including waste woods, green timber, and
even agricultural by-products to be successfully combined with cement into strong and durable
products. Instead of wasting space in landfills, waste wood can now be recycled efficiently
and inexpensively into a strong, durable building system. The K-X system uses a two-stage
mineralization process to preserve the wood. The ionization between the wood fibers and the
K-X minerals makes a permanent chemical bond that allows the fibers to become an integral part
of the concrete, not just be coated by it. Faswall forms are unlike other blocks made of foamed
plastic, and will not burn, rot, or allow vermin and insects to invade. The forms are made out of
85% K-X Aggregate (treated recycled woodchips) and 15% portland cement. Fly ash can replace
3% cement if desired.
www.faswall.com
Kirei Board
Kirei board is a new environmentally friendly building material composed of 100% recycled
agricultural fiber. Strong and lightweight, Kirei board has nearly unlimited uses in contemporary
design. Manufactured from recycled sorghum stalks and the formaldehyde-free KR Bond adhesive,
Kirei board helps to reduce landfill waste and eliminate harmful Volatile Organic Compounds in
the ambient airspace. Sorghum, the principal component of Kirei board, is a drought-tolerant food
grain requiring little fertilizer or pesticides to grow. Now, through a revolutionary process, these
previously discarded stalks provide the foundation for a strong, delicately grained, lightweight
building material. Ideal uses for Kirei board include: interior architectural surfacing, cabinetry,
furniture, paneling, display fixturing, interior wall coverings, office dividers, home decoration,
and finished roducts & accessories.
www.kireiusa.com
Lignasil Tile
Madera solid surface tile is made entirely from Lignasil, which is a high performance biocomposite
material made from recycled natural fibers. The integral-color tile is designed for high
traffic applications, and is less expensive, lighter-weight, and warmer to the touch than ceramics
or stone. Standard Madera tiles are precision molded to 12” x 12” x 3/8”, but can be cut easily
with typical woodworking tools.
Liquid Wood
Renewable raw materials ease the burden on the environment. Researchers from the Fraunhofer
Institute for Chemical Technology ICT in Pfinztal near Karlsruhe, led by Prof. Peter Eyerer and
Dr. Norbert Eisenreich, are developing a thermoplastic material – deformable under heat – based
on natural resources. The unusual thing about this material, which is known as Arboform is
that although it possesses similar properties to wood, it can be cheaply injection- molded like a
plastic. This can be a major advantage in production, for example, in the manufacture of molded
parts for the automobile industry. One of the raw materials used in Arboform is lignin. This is the
substance that gives wood its rigidity. Lignin is the second most frequently occurring polymer in
nature. Every year millions of tons of it are produced as a by-product in the paper industry. Up
to now lignin has mainly been burned in order to produce energy, but this renewable material
can also be used in a different way: when lignin is mixed with natural fibers, the thermoplastic
material Arboform is formed. This can be used in many applications as a substitute for synthetic
materials derived from oil. “We have been working for two years on the optimum composition
of natural polymers and natural fibers,” Helmut Nägele and Jürgen Pfitzer of the ICT report. The
scientists are working on ways of making Arboform more malleable and more heat-resistant.
liteCORE
When architects Christian Mitman and Emmanuelle Bourlier were unable to find a lightweight,
translucent material for a project they were working on, they halted their search and took a
different approach to solving the problem: they invented one. Hence the birth of liteCORE,
translucent honeycomb panels that are not only perfect for sliding walls, screens and tables, but
this sleek material is also sturdy enough to be used for a ceiling or a floor. With such demand
for the panels (both residential and commercial,) Mitman and Bourlier’s company has expanded