48 new materials - Material ConneXion

BEST OF SHOW
Once a month, an interdisciplinary team of experts from a variety of design related
fields come together to select new materials for the library. Out of the forty materials,
juried monthly, one is chosen as the Best of Show. According to Dr. Andrew Dent, our
Vice President of Library and Material Research, who moderates the jury sessions, a model material
is innovative, eco-friendly, technologically advanced, and has many possible applications.
Here, we have highlighted three of the most recent Best of Show materials.
Contact information for the manufacturers of the materials on these pages is available in
Material ConneXion’s online library database www.materialconnexion.com. Refer to the MC#.
For information on how to become a subscriber e-mail us at access@materialconnexion.com.
Polymer: D30
MC# 5536-01
Moldable resin that stiffens
on impact. The technology
harnesses dilatancy, the property
ascribed to a substance
that flows when moved slowly
but that stiffens when moved
quickly (similar to cornstarch
in water). The resin is molded
into flexible, elastic sheets
that are designed predominantly
as protective padding
in sportswear.
Natural: Particle Board
from Natural Waste
MC# 5496-01
Resin-impregnated, natural fiber
sheet that utilizes waste
materials. The rigid panels incorporate
Vetiver grass, rice
husk, wood chips, lemon grass,
or orange skin in an 8% polymeric
dipheylmethane diisocyanate
adhesive (PDMI) matrix.
The sheets comply with standard
particleboard in strength,
screw pullout, water resistance
and surface roughness.
Process: Polymer Chain Mail
MC# 539001
Automated injection-molding
process that manufactures
seamless, interlinked
elements. This mesh may
be manufactured from most
thermoplastic materials including
polypropylene (PP),
polyethylene (PE), and polycarbonate
(PC). Potential
applications include exterior
facades, drapes, seating, or
lampshades.
STATE OF THE ART
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