20 Magical Materials

20 Magical Materials Danish Society for Materials Technology; DSM, Futation and the Danish Design Centre present an exhibition with 20 fascinating materials, all with ‘special features’.

Experience magnetic liquid, glow-in-the-dark stones, metal that melts between your fingers, water-soluble plastic and many other exciting materials.

20 Magical Materials Danish Society for Materials Technology; DSM, Futation and the Danish Design Centre present an exhibition with 20 fascinating materials, all with ‘special features’.

Experience magnetic liquid, glow-in-the-dark stones, metal that melts between your fingers, water-soluble plastic and many other exciting materials.

Expanding graphite – expands when heated.

Material Graphite flakes that expand when heated. In between the graphite layers, a substance has been inserted that changes to a gaseous state when heated. When it transforms to a gas, the substance expands, and the individual layers of the graphite flakes are pried apart. The effect occurs at temperatures above 150°C. graftechaet.com Example of use: Fire-retardant materials for the construction industry.

Try for yourself • Use the gas torch to heat up the graphite flakes.

1

Superabsorbent polymers – capable of absorbing several hundred times its own weight in water.opv

Material Super-absorbent polymer consisting of long chains of molecules that attract water molecules and thus bind the water. polymersinc.com Example of use: Absorbing urine in nappies.

Try for yourself • Pour the powder from one of the jars into a glass of water.

2

Polycaprolactone – plastic that melts at 60°C. under opv

Material Polycaprolactone is a plastic with a low enough melting point that you can shape it in your hand once it has melted.

It can be re-melted and reshaped over and over again. perstorp.com Example of use: Protection for broken limbs instead of plaster.

Try for yourself • Take a lump of plastic from the pot and allow it to cool slightly.

• Shape the plastic in your hand.

3

Heat-generating paint – heats up when an electric current is run through it. under opv

Material The paint conducts electricity, but its inherent resistance makes it heat up. The paint can get as hot as 250°C. future-carbon.de Example of use: Backing for anti-dim mirrors.

Try for yourself • Feel the heat on the plate.

4

Ferrofluid – magnetic liquid. under opv

Material Oil with a suspension of microscopic magnetic particles. ferrotec.com Examples of use: Increasing the magnetic field around coils in loudspeakers and shock absorbers whose properties can be modified by means of a magnetic field.

Try for yourself • Move the glass around the plate.

5

Rheoscopic fluid – visualises liquid currents. under opv

Material A rheoscopic fluid contains microscopic flakes that align with the flow of currents in the liquid. The flakes reflect light and thus render the currents visible. kalliroscope.com Examples of use: Teaching and studying fluid flow.

Try for yourself • Adjust the speed of the stirrer.

6

Vulcanising silicone rubber – can be formed by hand but cures to a hard rubber in 24 hours.

Material A special form of silicone that sticks to most materials and cures (vulcanises) when it gets into contact with the moisture in the air.

It is packaged in small, airtight bags. sugru.com Examples of use: Repairing and modifying things around the house.

Try for yourself • Feel the difference between the non-vulcanised and the vulcanised material.

7

Memory wire – metal that remembers – returns to its original form when heated. under opv

Material Memory metal that remembers its original form. An alloy of nickel and titanium. nitinol.com Example of use: Braces for dental correction.

Try for yourself • Bend the metal wire.

• Use the hair-dryer to heat it.

8

Heat shielding gel – protects surfaces against heat. under opv

Material The gel is available as a spray or as an even more effective paste. When applied, the gel forms a heat shield to offer protection from extreme temperatures. dytecservices.com Example of use: Protecting painted surfaces during welding.

Try for yourself • Spray some gel on the wooden board.

• Use the gas burner to test the heat shield.

9

Heat-shrinking textile – shrinks to half its diameter when heated. under opv

Material A fabric woven with shrinkable plastic in one direction and ordinary thread in the other. langendorf-textil.com Example of use: Putting an attractive textile surface on rubber hoses.

Try for yourself • Put a piece of fabric on the stick.

• Heat it with the heat gun.

10

Water-soluble plastic – plastic film that dissolves quickly in water. under opv

Material Water-soluble plastic (polyvinylalcohol) that is non-toxic and bio-degradable. solublon.com Example of use: Packaging for dishwater detergent tablets that do not have to be unwrapped before use.

Try for yourself • Put one of the small pieces in water, and stir it around. • It sticks to your fingers.

11

Water-absorbent plastic – expands to eight times its original size in water. under opv

Material The plastic contains an absorbent substance that makes it soak up water. elastotpe.com Example of use: Gaskets that form a seal when wet.

Try for yourself • The piece in the jar and the piece outside the jar used to be the same size.

12

Glow-in-the-dark stones – glow for hours after the sun has set, or the light has been turned off. under opv

Material The stones are made of plastic and contain a fluorescent substance that is charged by light and subsequently emits light for a long time. ambientglowtechnology.com Example of use: Can be added to cement to be used in walkways that are easy to follow in the dark.

Try for yourself • Look inside the black box.

• You make the stones glow more brightly by briefly switching on the electric torch.

13

Thermochromatic film – changes colour when heated. under opv

Material A plastic film coated with thermochromatic ink that changes colour when it is heated.

Various thermochromatic inks are available that are activated at different temperatures. tmchallcrest.com Example of use: Thin, flexible thermometers.

Try for yourself • Place your hand on the film, and watch it change colour.

14

Bimetal disc – suddenly changes form when heated. under opv

Material The disc consists of two different metals, steel and invar (an alloy consisting of 36% nickel and 64% iron).

The steel expands when heated. The expansion makes the disc suddenly change from a concave to a convex form. wurmb.at Example of use: Used in thermostats to turn a switch on or off in response to a certain temperature.

Try for yourself • Place the disc with the sticker facing down.

• Use the gas burner to heat the disc up.

• Note how the disc returns to its original shape as it cools.

15

Magnetic field film – visualises magnetic fields. under opv

Material The film contains tiny transparent spheres filled with iron filings. The magnet makes the filings line up in the same direction, thus visualising the magnetic field. magnerite.com Example of use: Analysing magnetic fields in the production of items containing magnets.

Try for yourself • Move the magnetic field film over the magnets.

16

High-gravity plastic – weighs up to ten times more than ordinary plastic. under opv

Material Plastic filled with tiny metal particles. rtpcompany.com nordicpolymers.dk Example of use: Remote controls with a weight that gives an impression of robustness and quality.

Try for yourself • Pick up the two plates, and feel the weight.

17

Gallium – metal that melts at 30°C. under opv

Material Gallium is a silver-like material, number 31 in the periodic table. Because of its low melting point, the material will melt between your fingers, but it leaves black traces. molycorp.com Examples of use: In alloys with other metals.

Try for yourself • Put one of the plastic tubs into warm water.

• Notice how the metal melts.

18

Fibre-optic taper – enlarges or diminishes objects when you look through it. under opv

Material A thick bundle of fibre optics has been fused together and stretched into the desired dimensions. schott.com Example of use: Resizing an image to match the sensor in a camera.

Try for yourself • Look at the image through the glass block.

• Turn the block over and look again.

19

Quantum tunnel composite – conducts electricity more effectively the more it is compressed. under opv

Material Rubber containing tiny conductive metal particles.

When the rubber is compressed the particles are brought closer together, and the material becomes conductive. peratech.com Example of use: Flexible keyboards that can be sewn into clothing.

Try for yourself • Control the brightness of the light bulb by pressing on the plate.

20

‘20 Magical Materials’ was developed by Erik Haastrup Müller, Futation and Maria Hørmann, Danish Design Centre for Culture Night Copenhagen 2012.

The exhibition is shown on Culture Night, 12 October 2012, in Ingeniørhuset (IDA), 31 Kalvebod Brygge, from 18:00 until 23:00 and subsequently throughout the autumn holidays, 15-21 October 2012, at the Danish Design Centre, 27 H.C. Andersens Boulevard, Copenhagen.

The Danish Design Centre offers guided tours Monday through Friday at 11:00. A guided tour takes about half an hour.

For additional information: • Erik Haastrup Müller, Futation, em@futation.com, +45 2169 1339 • Maria Hørmann, Danish Design Centre, mho@ddc.dk, +45 3369 3381

Futation

We bring materials, technologies and ideas